Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 54-59 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids |
| Volume | 117 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2017 |
Abstract
Introduction Long-chain (LC) omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and cognitive decline. Several studies have shown that the LC n-3 PUFA status in women in western countries is low. The aim of this study was to assess the LC n-3 PUFA status in middle-aged German women and to identify variables that might affect the status. Material and methods From the nationwide and cross-sectional German VitaMinFemin study, fatty acid levels in the erythrocyte membrane (% of total erythrocyte fatty acids) were ascertained for 446 women (40−60 years). Results The average omega-3 index (% of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) of the total study population was 5.49±1.17%. A total of 62.8% of women had a low omega-3 index (>4−6%). The omega-3 index was affected by age and smoking, with slightly higher values in women ≥50 years (p=0.032) and non-smokers (p=0.002). Women taking hormonal contraceptives showed a lower EPA level (p<0.001), a lower ratio of EPA/alpha-linoleic acid (p<0.001) and a higher ratio of DHA/EPA (p<0.001) than women without hormonal contraception. Conclusion The low LC n-3 PUFA status in middle-aged German women (40–60 years) is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and possibly other diseases and should therefore be improved. Further studies are needed to determine the influence of estrogen on the effect on LC n-3 PUFA status.
Keywords
- Adult, Age Factors, Contraception, Cross-Sectional Studies, Docosahexaenoic Acids/blood, Eicosapentaenoic Acid/blood, Erythrocyte Membrane/chemistry, Female, Germany, Humans, Middle Aged, Smoking, Women, Omega-3 index, LC n-3 PUFAs, EPA, DHA
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Cell Biology
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, Vol. 117, No. 2, 01.02.2017, p. 54-59.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Low long chain omega-3 fatty acid status in middle-aged women
AU - Gellert, Sandra
AU - Schuchardt, Jan Philipp
AU - Hahn, Andreas
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Ltd Copyright: Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/2/1
Y1 - 2017/2/1
N2 - Introduction Long-chain (LC) omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and cognitive decline. Several studies have shown that the LC n-3 PUFA status in women in western countries is low. The aim of this study was to assess the LC n-3 PUFA status in middle-aged German women and to identify variables that might affect the status. Material and methods From the nationwide and cross-sectional German VitaMinFemin study, fatty acid levels in the erythrocyte membrane (% of total erythrocyte fatty acids) were ascertained for 446 women (40−60 years). Results The average omega-3 index (% of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) of the total study population was 5.49±1.17%. A total of 62.8% of women had a low omega-3 index (>4−6%). The omega-3 index was affected by age and smoking, with slightly higher values in women ≥50 years (p=0.032) and non-smokers (p=0.002). Women taking hormonal contraceptives showed a lower EPA level (p<0.001), a lower ratio of EPA/alpha-linoleic acid (p<0.001) and a higher ratio of DHA/EPA (p<0.001) than women without hormonal contraception. Conclusion The low LC n-3 PUFA status in middle-aged German women (40–60 years) is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and possibly other diseases and should therefore be improved. Further studies are needed to determine the influence of estrogen on the effect on LC n-3 PUFA status.
AB - Introduction Long-chain (LC) omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and cognitive decline. Several studies have shown that the LC n-3 PUFA status in women in western countries is low. The aim of this study was to assess the LC n-3 PUFA status in middle-aged German women and to identify variables that might affect the status. Material and methods From the nationwide and cross-sectional German VitaMinFemin study, fatty acid levels in the erythrocyte membrane (% of total erythrocyte fatty acids) were ascertained for 446 women (40−60 years). Results The average omega-3 index (% of eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) of the total study population was 5.49±1.17%. A total of 62.8% of women had a low omega-3 index (>4−6%). The omega-3 index was affected by age and smoking, with slightly higher values in women ≥50 years (p=0.032) and non-smokers (p=0.002). Women taking hormonal contraceptives showed a lower EPA level (p<0.001), a lower ratio of EPA/alpha-linoleic acid (p<0.001) and a higher ratio of DHA/EPA (p<0.001) than women without hormonal contraception. Conclusion The low LC n-3 PUFA status in middle-aged German women (40–60 years) is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and possibly other diseases and should therefore be improved. Further studies are needed to determine the influence of estrogen on the effect on LC n-3 PUFA status.
KW - Adult
KW - Age Factors
KW - Contraception
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Docosahexaenoic Acids/blood
KW - Eicosapentaenoic Acid/blood
KW - Erythrocyte Membrane/chemistry
KW - Female
KW - Germany
KW - Humans
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Smoking
KW - Women
KW - Omega-3 index
KW - LC n-3 PUFAs
KW - EPA
KW - DHA
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85011849192&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.plefa.2017.01.009
DO - 10.1016/j.plefa.2017.01.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 28237088
VL - 117
SP - 54
EP - 59
JO - Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
JF - Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
SN - 0952-3278
IS - 2
ER -