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Urban/rural differences in red blood cell fatty acid composition, plasma lipids and diet in Melanesian Fijians
W H Sutherland1, M E Shilton, E R Nye
1Department of Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to compare red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid composition, plasma lipids and lipoproteins and dietary intake between urban and rural Melanesian Fijians.
Design:
A cross-sectional study was performed in a random subsample (n = 154) from a total survey population of 589 subjects.
Setting:
Melanesian Fijians living in the relatively urban settlement of Nabua, Suva and On the remote island of Qamea (rural) were studied.
Results:
The proportions of myristic acid (1.4% versus 0.3%, P < 0.001) and arachidonic acid (10.1% versus 11.4%, P < 0.01) were significantly higher and proportions of oleic acid (14.4% versus 13.2%, P < 0.05) and linoleic acid (11.9% versus 8.1%, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in RBC from rural compared with urban men, and a similar pattern was seen in women. Plasma cholesterol levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the rural subjects. Urban/rural differences in plasma cholesterol levels were not significant when the proportion of RBC myristate was taken into account.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that consumption of myristic acid from coconut fat is greater and the intake of linoleic acid is less in Fijians living on a remote island and may contribute to their higher plasma cholesterol levels compared with their urban counterparts.
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