Plasma n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as biomarkers of their dietary intakes: a cross-sectional study within a cohort of middle-aged French men and women

Abstract

Objective: To measure the correlations between habitual intakes of individual n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their percentages in total plasma fatty acids in a population of adult men and women. Subjects/Methods: Two hundred and seventy-six men and 257 women aged 45-60 (men) or 35-60 (women) at baseline, volunteers of the French SU.VI.MAX cohort. Fifteen 24-h record questionnaires were used to estimate the habitual intake of energy, total fat and linoleic, a-linolenic acid, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), n-3 docosapentaenoic (DPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. Fatty acid composition of fasting plasma total lipids has been determined at baseline. Results: Dietary intakes of linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, EPA and DHA were weakly but significantly correlated (0.16oro0.28, Po0.01) with their respective percentages in plasma total fatty acids in both men and women. No correlation was observed between the plasma levels of a-linolenic acid and its dietary intake, and between the plasma levels of arachidonic acid and longchain n-3 PUFA and the intakes of their 18-carbon precursors, linoleic and a-linolenic acid, respectively. Conclusions: The percentages of linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, EPA and DHA in plasma total fatty acids, but not that of alinolenic acid, are acceptable markers of their habitual levels of intake. The plasma levels of long-chain n-6 and n-3 PUFA are not influenced by the intake levels of their precursors, linoleic and a-linolenic acids.

Determining the fatty acid composition in plasma and tissues as fatty acid methyl esters using gas chromatography – a comparison of different derivatization and extraction procedures

“…Moreover, trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) [18][19][20] has been used in these kind of studies and alkaline derivatization with sodium or potassium methanolate [6] or hydroxide [19] have been proven to be suitable for the analysis of different lipid classes. Moreover, combinations of different reagents, such as BF 3 and methanolic sodium hydroxide, have been developed [21][22][23]. Lipid extraction is generally carried out according to Bligh and Dyer [24] or for samples with high fat content according to Folch [25,26], albeit several years ago Matyash et al described an extraction strategy allowing a replacement of halogenated solvents [27].…”

Dietary docosahexaenoic acid supplementation alters select physiological endocannabinoid-system metabolites in brain and plasma

“…Multiple reaction monitoring of the endocannabinoid metabolome and the corresponding deuterated internal standards was Defi ning the extent to which specifi c dietary components can modulate the physiological endocannabinoid metabolome has been highlighted as an important contemporary research goal ( 10,(12)(13)(14)(15) ( 14,(16)(17)(18), from which AEA and AG are derived ( 1,3 ). AA and DHA are supplied to the brain from the circulation, either from dietary sources or as synthesized primarily in the liver from shorter-chain essential fatty acids ( 19,20 ).…”

“…The devastating infl ammatory effects of certain AAderived metabolites ( 30 ) and the health benefi ts of nutritive -3 fatty acid supplementation in the central nervous system and periphery ( 21,22,(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) have prompted in vivo fatty acid feeding studies that generally corroborate a positive association between DHA, EPA, or AA intake and the level of that respective fatty acid or their endocannabinoid-related ethanolamide and monoglyceride derivatives in various tissues and/or plasma ( 12,13,16,23,24,(31)(32)(33). The impact of DHA consumption on the various endocannabinoid-related metabolites in compartments where endocannabinoid signaling carries particular (patho)physiological and/or diagnostic import, such as brain and the blood circulation, has not been comprehensively examined in vivo ( 3,29,34,35 ).…”

Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissue and breast cancer risk: a case–cohort study from Denmark

“…The use of biomarkers may provide a more accurate and objective measurement of the habitual diet, and in this aspect, adipose tissue is of particular interest. The content of marine n-3 PUFA in adipose tissue reflects the dietary intake of these fatty acids during the past several months, whereas in blood cells it only reflects the intake during the last weeks [20][21][22][23]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of marine n-3 PUFA in adipose tissue, as a long-term indicator for the intake of marine n-3 PUFA, on the incidence of BC.…”