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Decreasing the Linoleic Acid to α‐Linolenic Acid Diet Ratio Increases Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Erythrocytes in Adults
Author(s) -
Wien Michelle,
Rajaram Sujatha,
Oda Keiji,
Sabaté Joan
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
lipids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1558-9307
pISSN - 0024-4201
DOI - 10.1007/s11745-010-3430-3
Subject(s) - lipidology , clinical chemistry , eicosapentaenoic acid , linoleic acid , linolenic acid , food science , chemistry , fatty acid , biochemistry , polyunsaturated fatty acid
The n‐6/n‐3 fatty acid (FA) ratio has increased in the Western‐style diet to ~10–15:1 during the last century, which may have contributed to the rise in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prior studies have evaluated the effects on CVD risk factors of manipulating the levels of n‐6 and n‐3 FA using food and supplements or investigated the metabolic fate of linoleic acid (LNA) and α‐linolenic acid (ALA) by varying the n‐6/n‐3 ratios. However, no previous studies have investigated the potential interaction between diet ratios and supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3). We used a factorial design approach with adults ( n = 24) in a controlled feeding trial to compare the accretion of EPA and DHA into red blood cell membranes (RBC) by adding a direct source (algal oil supplement) of EPA and DHA in a diet with a 10:1 versus 2:1 ratio of n‐6/n‐3 FA. Subjects were randomized into 8‐week crossover diet sequences and each subject consumed three of four diets [10:1, 10:1 plus supplement (10:1 + S), 2:1 and 2:1 + S]. LNA and ALA intakes were 9.4 and 7.7%, and 1.0 and 3.0% during the low and high ALA diets, respectively. Compared to the Western‐style 10:1 diet, the 2:1 diet increased EPA by 60% ( P < 0.0001) in RBC membranes without the direct EPA source and a 34% increase ( P = 0.027) was observed with the 10:1 + S diet; however, DHA levels increased in both diet ratios only with a direct DHA source. Shifting towards a 2:1 diet is a valid alternative to taking EPA‐containing supplements.