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Correlation between n‐3 fatty acid intakes estimated using a food frequency questionnaire and concentrations measured in plasma phospholipids
Author(s) -
Garneau Veronique,
Paradis AnnMarie,
Godin Gaston,
Julien Pierre,
Perusse Louis,
Vohl MarieClaude
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.939.2
Subject(s) - docosapentaenoic acid , docosahexaenoic acid , eicosapentaenoic acid , food frequency questionnaire , zoology , polyunsaturated fatty acid , fatty acid , chemistry , medicine , food science , biology , biochemistry
Aim To verify whether intakes of n‐3 fatty acids (FA) estimated from a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) correlate with n‐3 FA concentrations measured in plasma phospholipids (PL). Methods The study sample consisted of 100 men and 100 women. Dietary data were collected using a FFQ administered by a dietitian. Plasma PL FA profile was measured by gas chromatography. Results Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (men: r=0.52, p<0.0001; women: r=0.57, p<0.0001) and total n‐3 FA (men: r=0.47, p<0.0001; women: r=0.52, p<0.0001) intakes were positively correlated to their respective plasma PL FA concentrations in both sexes. In women only, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (r=0.44, p<0.0001) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) (r=0.23, p=0.02) intakes correlated with plasma PL FA concentrations. The quintile assignment analysis highlights the relation between the n‐3 FA estimated versus measured in plasma PL. DHA is the FA that was classified the most successfully (72% of men and 62% of women assigned in the same or adjacent quintiles) and DPA is the FA that had the smallest level of agreement between the 2 methods (around 50% for both sexes). Conclusions Intakes of n‐3 FA estimated from a FFQ correlate with n‐3 FA concentrations measured in plasma PL. FFQ could be used as a simple, low cost tool in studies investigating effects of n‐3 FA intakes in some diseases. This study was supported by CIHR.