Both n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are recognized as essential nutrients in the human diet, yet reliable data on population intakes are limited. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the dietary intakes and food sources of individual n-6 and n-3 PUFA in the Australian population. An existing database with fatty acid composition data on 1690 foods was updated with newly validated data on 150 foods to estimate the fatty acid content of foods recorded as eaten by 10,851 adults in the 1995 Australian National Nutrition Survey. Average daily intakes of linoleic (LA), arachidonic (AA), alpha-linolenic (LNA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids were 10.8, 0.052, 1.17, 0.056, 0.026, and 0.106 g, respectively, with long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA (addition of EPA, DPA, and DHA) totaling 0.189 g; median intakes were considerably lower (9.0 g LA, 0.024 g AA, 0.95 g LNA, 0.008 g EPA, 0.006 g DPA, 0.015 g DHA, and 0.029 g LC n-3 PUFA). Fats and oils, meat and poultry, cereal-based products and cereals, vegetables, and nuts and seeds were important sources of n-6 PUFA, while cereal-based products, fats and oils, meat and poultry, cereals, milk products, and vegetable products were sources of LNA. As expected, seafood was the main source of LC n-3 PUFA, contributing 71%, while meat and eggs contributed 20 and 6%, respectively. The results indicate that the majority of Australians are failing to meet intake recommendations for LC n-3 PUFA (> 0.2 g per day) and emphasize the need for strategies to increase the availability and consumption of n-3-containing foods.

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This is one of the first randomized controlled trials to show that healthy dietary changes are achievable and, supplemented with fish oil, can improve mental health in people with depression.

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The important role of diet in cardiometabolic health is generally well recognised; for mental health, it is not so well understood. However, lifestyle risk factors for poor physical health are the same risk factors for mental illness, including poor diet. This is reflected by the high level of poor physical health in people with mental illness. Mediterranean, whole food diets have been associated with reduced risk for chronic disease, but very little research has investigated their mental health benefits. We provide a model for the pathways by which food components provided by a Mediterranean-style diet can facilitate healthy brain function. We then review evidence for the role of selected nutrients/food components -antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins -in the brain and, hence, modulation of cognitive function and mental health. Converging evidence indicates multiple pathways by which these nutrients can assist in brain function, drawing from studies investigating them in isolation. There is very little work done on synergistic actions of nutrients and whole diets, highlighting a need for human intervention studies investigating benefits of Mediterranean-style diets for mental, as well as cardiometabolic health. ABSTRACTDietary risk factors for cardiometabolic health are generally well recognised; for mental

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Consumption of fish or fish oils rich in the n-3 long chain PUFA EPA and DHA may improve multiple risk factors for CVD. The objective of this study was to determine whether regular consumption of foods enriched with n-3 long-chain PUFA can improve n-3 long-chain PUFA status (erythrocytes) and cardiovascular health. Overweight volunteers with high levels of triacylglycerols (TG; .1·6 mmol/l) were enrolled in a 6-month dietary intervention trial conducted in Adelaide (n 47) and Perth (n 39), and randomised to consume control foods or n-3-enriched foods to achieve an EPA þ DHA intake of 1 g/d. Test foods were substituted for equivalent foods in their regular diet. Erythrocyte fatty acids, plasma TG and other CVD risk factors were monitored at 0, 3 and 6 months. There were no significant differences between groups for blood pressure, arterial compliance, glucose, insulin, lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP) or urinary 11-dehydro-thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 ) over 6 months, even though regular consumption of n-3-enriched foods increased EPA þ DHA intake from 0·2 to 1·0 g/d. However, the n-3 longchain PUFA content of erythrocytes increased by 35 and 53 % at 3 and 6 months, respectively, in subjects consuming the n-3-enriched foods. These increases were positively associated with measures of arterial compliance and negatively associated with serum CRP and urinary 11-dehydro-TXB 2 excretion. Sustainable increases in dietary intakes and erythrocyte levels of n-3 long-chain PUFA can be achieved through regular consumption of suitably enriched processed foods. Such increases may be associated with reduced CV risk.

Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) are beneficial for health. To date there is no specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess LC n-3 PUFA intakes. The objective of this study is to validate our newly developed FFQ by comparison with LC n-3 PUFA content of both red blood cells (RBC) and plasma, expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids. Fifty-three healthy male and female subjects were recruited from Wollongong, Australia. Average LC n-3 PUFA intakes (mg/day) were estimated using the new FFQ. RBC and plasma fatty acids were assessed using gas chromatography. Spearman correlation co-efficients assessed the linear relationship between FFQ intakes and both RBC and plasma fatty acids. ) The results show that there were significant Spearman's correlation co-efficients between the FFQ intakes and RBC (and plasma) fatty acids for total LC n-3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (0.50 (0.54), 0.39 (0.54) and 0.40 (0.48) respectively) but not for docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). The FFQ was also an effective ranking tool. In summary, the FFQ is a valid method based on erythrocyte and plasma fatty acids as biochemical markers. In conclusion, the new FFQ is a valid method that can be used to estimate the LC n-3 PUFA intake of adults. KeywordsOmega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, red blood cell, plasma, food frequency questionnaire, intakes, validation, biomarker Abbreviations Used:DHA -docosahexaenoic acid; DPA -docosapentaenoic acid; EPA -eicosapentaenoic acid; FFQ -food frequency questionnaire; FR -food record; ISSFAL -International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids; LC n-3 PUFA -long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; NNS -National Nutrition Survey; RBC -red blood cells. 3 ABSTRACTLong chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) are beneficial for health.To date there is no specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess LC n-3 PUFA intakes. The objective of this study is to validate our newly developed FFQ by comparison with LC n-3 PUFA content of both red blood cells (RBC) and plasma, expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids. Fifty-three healthy male and female subjects were recruited from Wollongong, Australia. Average LC n-3 PUFA intakes (mg/day) were estimated using the new FFQ. RBC and plasma fatty acids were assessed using gas chromatography.Spearman correlation co-efficients assessed the linear relationship between FFQ intakes and both RBC and plasma fatty acids. ) The results show that there were significant Spearman's correlation co-efficients between the FFQ intakes and RBC (and plasma) fatty acids for total LC n-3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (0.50 (0.54), 0.39 (0.54) and 0.40 (0.48) respectively) but not for docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). The FFQ was also an effective ranking tool. In summary, the FFQ is a valid method based on erythrocyte and plasma fatty acids as biochemical markers. In...