N‐6/N‐3 ratio in the diet of Americans using NHANES 1999–2006 datasets

Changes in patterns of dietary fat have been an area of interest due to their impact on biomarkers for disease and association with various health outcomes. The dietary ratio of omega‐6 (n‐6) to omega‐3 (n‐3) fatty acids has re‐emerged as an element of dietary patterns for consideration. Ratios of 20‐to‐30:1 for n‐6:n‐3 are often described as being reflective of the typical American diet. Using combined NHANES datasets from 1999–2006 (day‐1 data), the ratio of total dietary n‐6 fatty acids to total n‐3 fatty acids was examined. The mean total n‐6/n‐3 ratio for individuals above the age of 6 years was 10.6 with median, 90 th , 95 th , and 99 th percentile intakes being 9.46, 9.5, 15.3, 18.8 and 31.5, respectively. Using individual NHANES datasets, the mean, median, 90 th , 95 th and 99 th percentile dietary n6/n3 ratios for years ’99‐’00 were: 10.7, 9.7, 15.5, 19.5, and 31.6, respectively; for ’01‐’02: 10.3, 9.3, 14.6, 17.7, and 29.5, respectively; for ’03‐’04: 9.2 10.5, 15.5, 18.9 and33.0, respectively; and for’05‐’06: 9.6, 10.7, 15.5, 19.1 and 30.9, respectively. This totality of data demonstrates that the typical American consumed a diet resulting in a n‐6:n‐3 ratio which ranged from 9–11 and was less than 20 for more than 95% of individuals between 1999–2006. This work was supported by Archer Daniels Midland Company.