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Very-long-chain ω-3 fatty acids as markers for habitual fish intake in a population consuming mainly lean fish: the EPIC cohort of Gipuzkoa

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 827–832 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relationship between habitual fish intake and fatty acid levels in serum as well as in the LDL fractions of serum phospholipids and cholesteryl esters.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Cohort of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, northern Spain) included in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) project.

Subjects: Random sample of 120 healthy volunteers of both sexes aged 35–65 y, divided into various consumption groups according to daily fish intake.

Methods: Data on habitual intake over the previous year was collected by trained interviewers by means of a computerized questionnaire based on the diet history method. Fasting venous blood samples were drawn and fatty acids were measured by gas-liquid chromatography.

Results: Lean fish accounted for 78% of all fish consumption in the highest consumption group (>115 g/day) and for 60% in the lowest (<31 g/day). The mean concentrations of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5, ω-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6, ω-3) in serum and in the LDL fractions of serum phospholipids and cholesteryl esters increased significantly from the lowest to the highest fish consumption categories. Fish intake showed a statistically significant relationship with ω-3 PUFA, EPA and DHA in serum and in the LDL fractions of serum phospholipids and cholesteryl esters both in the simple linear regression analysis and in a multiple regression model adjusted by age, body mass index (BMI) and vegetable intake.

Conclusions: Habitual fish intake is reflected in the content of EPA and DHA in serum and in the LDL phospholipid and cholesteryl esters fractions. The concentrations of very-long-chain ω-3 fatty acids are useful biomarkers for dietary fish intake, mainly lean fish.

Sponsorship: Europe Against Cancer Programme of the European Union (agreement SOC 97 200302 05F02); ‘Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias’, Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS grant 99/0024-05); Government of the Basque Country; and ‘Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española contra el Cáncer’.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 817–832

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jone Segués for assistance in reviewing the surveys, Eva Fernández de Labastida and Ana del Cerro for technical assistance, Nerea Larrañaga and Gloria Osakar for review of the manuscript, and Marta Pulido, MD, for editing the manuscript and editorial assistance.

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Author notes

  1. P Amiano; M Dorronsoro; M de Renobales; JC Ruiz de Gordoa; I Irigoien: Members of the EPIC Group of Spain: Antonio Agudo and Carlos A González, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona; Pilar Amiano, Jose M Beguiristain and Miren Dorronsoro, Departamento de Sanidad del Gobierno Vasco, Donostia-San Sebastian; Ana Barcos and Aurelio Barricarte, Departamento de Salud de Navarra, Pamplona; M Dolores Chirlaque, Carmen Navarro and M José Tormo, Consejería de Sanidad y Política Social, Murcia; Cristina Lasheras and José R Quirós, Consejería de Sanidad y Servicios Sociales, Oviedo, Asturias; Carmen Martínez and Mauricio Rodríguez, Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Granada; and Guillem Pera, Institut de Recerca Epidemiològica i Clinica, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Department of Health of the Basque Government, Gipuzkoa, Spain

    P Amiano & M Dorronsoro

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Basque Country, Spain

    M de Renobales & JC Ruiz de Gordoa

  3. Faculty of Sciences, University of Basque Country, Spain

    I Irigoien

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Correspondence to P Amiano.

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Amiano, P., Dorronsoro, M., de Renobales, M. et al. Very-long-chain ω-3 fatty acids as markers for habitual fish intake in a population consuming mainly lean fish: the EPIC cohort of Gipuzkoa. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 827–832 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601242

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