Non-dietary factors associated with n-3 long-chain PUFA levels in humans - a systematic literature review

Renate H. M. de Groot, Rebecca Emmett, Barbara J. Meyer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Numerous health benefits are attributed to the n-3 long-chain PUFA (n-3 LCPUFA); EPA and DHA. A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate factors, other than diet, that are associated with the n-3 LCPUFA levels. The inclusion criteria were papers written in English, carried out in adult non-pregnant humans, n-3 LCPUFA measured in blood or tissue, data from cross-sectional studies, or baseline data from intervention studies. The search revealed 5076 unique articles of which seventy were included in the qualitative synthesis. Three main groups of factors potentially associated with n-3 LCPUFA levels were identified: (1) unmodifiable factors (sex, genetics, age), (2) modifiable factors (body size, physical activity, alcohol, smoking) and (3) bioavailability factors (chemically bound form of supplements, krill oil v. fish oil, and conversion of plant-derived alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) to n-3 LCPUFA). Results showed that factors positively associated with n-3 LCPUFA levels were age, female sex (women younger than 50 years), wine consumption and the TAG form. Factors negatively associated with n-3 LCPUFA levels were genetics, BMI (if erythrocyte EPA and DHA levels are

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)793-808
Number of pages16
JournalBritish Journal of Nutrition
Volume121
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Fatty acid status
  • Effects
  • Determinants
  • Healthy adults
  • Review studies
  • Measurement
  • Implications
  • FATTY-ACID-COMPOSITION
  • ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID
  • DISEASE RISK-FACTORS
  • RED-BLOOD-CELLS
  • EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID
  • DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID
  • ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION
  • GENETIC-VARIANTS
  • FISH-OIL
  • GENDER-DIFFERENCES

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