Traditional fish intake and fatty acid composition in fish consuming and non-fish consuming populations

To evaluate the validity of habitual marine fish intake, the relation between fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids and dietary patterns were investigated. Dietary intake and serum fatty acid concentrations were measured in healthy subjects of coastal fish consuming and non-fish consuming populations. Amongst fish consumers, the intake of total energy (p<0.01) and carbohydrate (p<0.05) is significantly lower and protein intake higher than in non-fish consumers. The mean percentages of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids do not show significant variation. However, in the ω-6 fatty acid series, the percent of linoleic acid, 22:4 ω-6 and 22:5 ω-6 is significantly lower in fish consumers, whereas dihomo-gamma linolenic acid is higher than in the non-fish consumers. The percentage of w-3 fatty acids in fish consumers, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are significantly greater (p<0.01) than those in non-fish consumers probably attributable to differences in fish intake. These differences in fatty acid profiles, particularly in the long-chain ω-3 series, are highlighted with the consumption of fish being a possible explanation between fish consuming and non-fish populations. The findings of this study suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of fish consumption is worthy of further study.