Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Intake in Children: The Role of Family-Related Social Determinants.

María Isabel Martínez-Martínez,Antoni Alegre-Martínez,Omar Cauli

doi:10.3390/nu12113455

María Isabel Martínez-Martínez, Antoni Alegre-Martínez + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113455

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Abstract

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids play a central role in neuronal growth and in the development of the human brain, since they are essential elements which depend on intake through diet to ensure an adequate amount. Fish and seafood are the main dietary sources of these fatty acids in Spain and in other countries. In order to assess the effect of the intake of common foods containing high amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a food frequency questionnaire was administered to parents of children and adolescents attending a primary school in Valencia (Spain), and the intake of dietary omega-3 such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was estimated based on their fish/seafood consumption. Low frequencies of intake were significantly (p < 0.05) lower for many types of fish/seafood in children compared to adolescents. 27.5% of children/adolescents did not eat lean fish or other types (19.8% of the sample did not eat fatty fish, and 71.8% did not eat smoked fish) and 20–60% of the sample consumed seafood only once–three times a month, leading to a reduced estimated intake of EPA+DHA below that recommended for both groups by public health agencies. Social aspects, such as the type of work done by mothers and their educational levels are significant factors (p < 0.05 in both cases) affecting children’s/adolescents’ intake of DHA+EPA. Dietary interventions to increase the consumption of fish and seafood are strongly advised, and health promotion strategies should be aimed at the family level and fight against gender disparities.

Highlights

Essential fatty acids are a fundamental and necessary nutritional contribution to the healthy development of the organism and, of all of them, omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are those that have presented the healthiest effects
Several studies relate fish consumption to socio-economic conditions: in a study performed in Amsterdam in 2014, only 31.7% of participants adhered to the fish consumption guidelines, and the group with the lowest income adhered to it the least
The results our is an important source of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fattyof acids study revealed a low frequency of fish intake, as of children/adolescents did not eat lean or other such as Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), which are essential for a proper metabolism [31,47,49,50]

Summary

Introduction

Essential fatty acids are a fundamental and necessary nutritional contribution to the healthy development of the organism and, of all of them, omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are those that have presented the healthiest effects. This determines the importance of O3 LC-PUFA for the correct functioning and development of these organs, as well as in the deterioration of some functions when these substances are deficient, such as impairment of brain function, lack of growth, skin lesions, loss of muscle tone and degenerative changes in some organs [2,14,15,16,17]. Occupational prestige was not statistically associated with its consumption [18] In another French study, seafood intake recommendations were better followed by older people and those with a higher educational level and high occupational category, and the budget allocated to fish increased with age and educational level [19]. In a Chinese study performed in 2007–2009, respondents consuming the least fish were individuals with low incomes and an education below primary school level [20]

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