Serum Fatty Acid Composition in Normal Japanese and Its Relationship with Dietary Fish and Vegetable Oil Contents and Blood Lipid Levels

Abstract

A survey was conducted on 110 normal Japanese adults (55 men and 55 women) to determine their caloric intake, dietary fat content and its origin (animal, plant, or marine). In addition, their blood lipid levels and fatty acid compositions were examined. Men in their 30s-50s consumed 2,600–2,800 calories and 60 g of fats, while women in the same age range consumed 2,000–2,200 calories and 52–58 g of fats. In boths sexes, caloric, fat, and cholesterol intakes were lower for those in their 60s but protein and crude fiber consumption remained generally unchanged. When the dietary fats were classified according to origin, men and women in their 30s were found to consume less oil of marine origin. This appeared to be the result of a western style diet for Japanese adults in their 30s. Compared with men, women exhibited lower blood lipid levels. As age increased, the total cholesterol level of the blood rose in women. Thus the blood lipid level was generally equal in the two groups in their 60s. There was a positive correlation between the blood eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels and dietary consumption of fish oil. The marine/plant lipid ratio was positively correlated with the blood EPA/ arachidonic acid ratio. Therefore, it was believed that the origin of the dietary fats consumed is a factor in determining the blood fatty acid profile. The linoleic acid (18:2), arachidonic acid (20:4), and 18:2 + 20:4 contents were negatively correlated to the total cholesterol level in the blood but positively correlated to the HDL·cholesterol level. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:2 + 20:4 + 20:5 + 22:6) were negatively correlated with the blood triglyceride level. From the findings presented above, we concluded that dietary fats not derived from animal sources should be classified into fish and vegetable oils to evaluate their dietary significance. We also noted that Japanese in their 30s consume less fish oil, indicating the western trend in their dietary lipid consumption.

Serum n‐3 Fatty Acids, Fish Consumption and Cancer Mortality in Six Japanese Populations in Japan and Brazil

“…27,28) In this study, serum EPA and DHA composition (%) ranged from 2.6-3.6 and 4.7-5.6, respectively, excluding Okinawa and Brazil, levels which are similar to those of other studies in Japanese. 25,[27][28][29] The serum EPA and DHA compositions (%) of Japanese in Sao Paulo were 0.6 and 2.0, respectively, values that are similar to those of Caucasian Americans in previous reports. 25,28) Serum EPA and DHA composition (%) in Okinawa were halfway between areas in Japan and Sao Paulo.…”

Carotenoid, Tocopherol, and Fatty Acid Biomarkers and Dietary Intake Estimated by Using a Brief Self-Administered Diet History Questionnaire for Older Japanese Children and Adolescents

“…In addition to inaccurate answers in the questionnaire, the difference in bioavailability of fatty acids in children and adults may attenuate the correlations. Among adults over the age of 30 y, older people have more serum EPA, DPA, and DHA (10,47,48); fatty acid content of RBCs may be lower in children than in adults. Furthermore, because RBC fatty acids could indicate a steady-state equilibrium or a transient state with new fatty acids to be delivered to a body compartment (49), RBC n-3 PUFAs, precursors of physiologically active substances, may not reflect dietary intake in children during maturation and weight gain (18).…”

Serum fatty acid, lipid profile and dietary intake of Hong Kong Chinese omnivores and vegetarians

“…The serum fatty acid concentration was presented as regression model with age, therefore, the mean age of our studied males and females was substituted in the regression model for each serum fatty acid and the values obtained were used for comparison with our studied data. The Japanese data were from a study of 110 healthy normal individuals (55 males and 55 females) recruited in Aomori, Japan, whose eating habits were believed to be representative of the average Japanese diet (Nakamura et al, 1995). The serum fatty acid data were shown by age groups (30 s, 40 s, 50 s and 60 s).…”