The global availability of n-3 fatty acids

Abstract

Objectives To assess the validity of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data on availability of fish and vegetable oils as an indicator of national n-3 fatty acid intake, and to estimate the worldwide population living in countries with low n-3 fatty acid intake. Design Essential n-3 fatty acids (FAs) alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) measured by gas chromatography in adipose tissue from participants in this study, and those published from 11 other countries, were used to validate ALA and fish availability estimated from the FAO food balance sheets. Based on the validated FAO data for ALA and fish availability, we estimated the global prevalence of low n-3 FA availability. Setting Rural and urban areas of Bulgaria Subjects 50 men and 58 women Results Adipose tissue ALA and DHA in Bulgaria (0.34% and 0.11%) were lower than the 11 other countries with available data. A strong positive correlation was found between adipose tissue DHA and fish availability (r=0.88) and between adipose tissue ALA and ALA availability (r=0.92). Approximately half the world population lived in middle and low-income countries with limited access to n-3 FAs (fish < 400 g/wk and ALA < 4% of total vegetable oils), with the largest proportion being in Southeast Asia (53.6%), followed by Africa (27.1%) and Eastern Europe (8.5%). Of these, 33% lived in countries like Bulgaria where n-3 FAs were almost unavailable (fish < 200 g/wk and ALA < 2% of total vegetable oils). Conclusion Very low availability of n-3 FAs is extensive worldwide.

Dietary fats and coronary heart disease

“…Because fish consumption differs greatly amongst various populations, this means that the results of supplementation trials are likely to vary; if the population intake of fish is relatively high, the findings could be null but in a population with low fish intake, an important benefit might be seen. Notably, N-3 fatty acid intake from both fish and plant forms is high in the Netherlands, where the recent lack of benefit was seen [75].…”

“…Most important is whether ALA has similar benefits in reducing cardiovascular disease [77]. This is a major issue globally because fish consumption is very low in vast regions of the world [75], and the catch of wild fish cannot be increased further.…”

Fish Lipids as a Valuable Source of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

“…The average adipose tissue ALA in Bulgaria is comparable to the levels found among those with the highest risk of myocardial infarction in Costa Rica. Not surprisingly, regions with the lowest CVD mortality (North America, Europe and Oceania) have high n-3 availability, whereas in Bulgaria, the country with the smallest reduction in CVD mortality, the n-3PUFA intake is not increased [28]. By combining a lower intake of n-6 PUFAs with a higher intake of n-3 PUFAs e.g.…”

“…The provision of ALA, EPA and DHA through fish lipids in Bulgaria was among the lowest in the world, which is consistent with the low ALA and DHA levels established in adipose tissue of patients with CVD. An international epidemiological investigation in 2011 [28] finds that forty-seven countries (including Bulgaria as a participant) have almost no access to n-3 PUFAs. The estimated fish intake in Bulgaria (57 g/week) corresponds to an average intake of less than one portion per month.…”

Nuevas fuentes dietarias de acido alfa-linolénico: una visión crítica

“…Dentro de los ácidos grasos ω-3, el EPA presenta un relevante rol cardioprotector (5,6), mientras que el DHA participa activamente en el desarrollo del sistema nervioso central y visual, especialmente durante la vida intrauterina y los primeros años de vida (7,8) y en los últimos años se ha propuesto a este ácido graso como un potente agente neuroprotector frente al envejecimiento y el desarrollo de enfermedades neurodegenerativas, como la enfermedad de Alzheimer (9,10). Numerosas investigaciones han demostrado las diversas aplicaciones clínicas de los ácidos grasos ω-3, principalmente el EPA y DHA, destacando sus beneficios en el salud cardiovascular (5,6), dislipidemias (11), cáncer (12), diabetes mellitus (13), daño por isquemia -reperfusión (14), artritis reumatoidea (15), enfermedades psiquiátricas y neurodegenerativas (9,10) enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (16) y enfermedad por hígado graso no alcohólico (17), siendo cada día más recomendado el consumo de EPA y DHA tanto para la prevención como el tratamiento de estas enfermedades. Lamentablemente, la disponibilidad en la dieta occidental de ácidos grasos ω-3 es muy pequeña, limitándose a unos pocos aceites vegetales (canola y soya, por ejemplo) para el aporte de ALA y a los pescados grasos o azules para el aporte de EPA y/o DHA (18).…”