Healthy intakes of n−3 and n–6 fatty acids: estimations considering worldwide diversity (original) (raw)

2006, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Background: The worldwide diversity of dietary intakes of nҀ6 and nҀ3 fatty acids influences tissue compositions of nҀ3 longchain fatty acids (LCFAs: eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids) and risks of cardiovascular and mental illnesses. Objective: We aimed to estimate healthy dietary allowances for nҀ3 LCFAs that would meet the nutrient requirements of 97-98% of the population. Design: Deficiency in nҀ3 LCFAs was defined as attributable risk from 13 morbidity and mortality outcomes, including all causes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, homicide, bipolar disorder, and major and postpartum depressions. Dietary availability of nҀ3 LCFAs from commodities for 38 countries and tissue composition data were correlated by best fit to each illness in deficiency risk models. Results: The potential attributable burden of disease ranged from 20.8% (all-cause mortality in men) to 99.9% (bipolar disorder). nҀ3 LCFA intake for Japan (0.37% of energy, or 750 mg/d) met criteria for uniformly protecting 98% of the populations worldwide. nҀ3 LCFA intakes needed to meet a tissue target representative of Japan (60% nҀ3 in LCFA) ranged from 278 mg/d (Philippines, with intakes of 0.8% of energy as linoleate, 0.08% of energy as ␣-linolenate, and 0.06% of energy as arachidonic acid) to 3667 mg/d (United States, with 8.91% of energy as linoleate, 1.06% of energy as ␣linolenate, and 0.08% of energy as arachidonic acid). Conclusions: With caveats inherent for ecologic, nutrient disappearance analyses, a healthy dietary allowance for nҀ3 LCFAs for current US diets was estimated at 3.5 g/d for a 2000-kcal diet. This allowance for nҀ3 LCFAs can likely be reduced to one-tenth of that amount by consuming fewer nҀ6 fats.