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Birthweights in the Faroe Islands: possible role of isovaleric acid
Author(s) -
ACKMAN R. G.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2796.1989.tb00042.x
Subject(s) - eicosapentaenoic acid , fish <actinopterygii> , polyunsaturated fatty acid , population , docosahexaenoic acid , food science , medicine , fatty acid , biology , fishery , biochemistry , environmental health
. A high intake of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been suggested as a factor in prolonged gestation in the population of the Faroe Islands. It is now suggested that isovaleric acid from pilot whales, a species frequently consumed in the Faroe Islands, may be the unusual dietary factor. Fatty acid data for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) in blood lipids of Faroese and Norwegians is reviewed in terms of the type of fish eaten, apparently mostly lean white fish with DHA ≫ EPA. The popular lean fish, thus, probably provides too little EPA to produce a marked effect on human biochemistry.