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Essential fats for future health. Proceedings of the 9th Unilever Nutrition Symposium, 26–27 May 2010

Abstract

The 9th Unilever Nutrition Symposium entitled ‘Essential fats for future health’, held on 26–27 May 2010, aimed to review the dietary recommendations for essential fatty acids (EFA); discuss the scientific evidence for the roles of EFA in cognition, immune function and cardiovascular health; and to identify opportunities for joint efforts by industry, academia, governmental and non-governmental organizations to effectively improve health behaviour. This paper summarizes the main conclusions of the presentations given at the symposium. Linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) are EFA that cannot by synthesized by the human body. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is considered as conditionally essential because of its limited formation from ALA in the human body and its critical role in early normal retinal and brain development and, jointly with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some evidence for possible beneficial roles of n-3 fatty acids for immune function and adult cognitive function is emerging. A higher consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; >10%E), including LA, ALA and at least 250–500 mg per day of EPA+DHA, is recommended for prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). Two dietary interventions suggest that EFA may affect CVD risk factors in children similarly as in adults. To ensure an adequate EFA intake of the population, including children, public health authorities should develop clear messages based on current science; ensure availability of healthy, palatable foods; and collaborate with scientists, the food industry, schools, hospitals, health-care providers and communities to encourage consumers to make healthy choices.

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Correspondence to A Eilander.

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Competing interests

PCC, CD, BK, DM, HN and RU received an honorarium for their contributions to the symposium and the current paper from Unilever Netherlands BV. AE, GWM and SJMO are employees of Unilever. DM reports receiving research grants from GlaxoSmithKline, Sigma Tau, Pronova, and the National Institutes of Health for an investigator-initiated, not-for-profit clinical trial; travel reimbursement, honoraria, or consulting fees from the International Life Sciences Institute, Aramark, Unilever, SPRIM, and Nutrition Impact; and royalties from UpToDate for an online chapter. BK is the recipient of a Freedom to Discover Award of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, New York, NY, USA. The other authors declare no other conflict of interest.

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Calder, P., Dangour, A., Diekman, C. et al. Essential fats for future health. Proceedings of the 9th Unilever Nutrition Symposium, 26–27 May 2010. Eur J Clin Nutr 64 (Suppl 4), S1–S13 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.242

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