A low omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6 PUFA) diet increases omega-3 (n-3) long chain PUFA status in plasma phospholipids in humans.
This study aimed to determine the effect of reducing the dietary linoleic acid (LA) intake from ~5% to <2.5% energy (%E) on n-3 long chain PUFA (LCPUFA) status in humans. Thirty-six participants followed a <2.5%E LA diet for 4 weeks. Nutrient intakes were estimated from diet diaries and blood samples were collected for assessment of fatty acid composition in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids. LA intakes were reduced from 4.6%E to 2%E during the low LA intervention (P<0.001) while n-3 LCPUFA intakes were unchanged. LA and total n-6 PUFA content of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids were significantly reduced after the low LA diet phase (P<0.001). The n-3 LCPUFA content of plasma phospholipids was significantly increased after the low LA diet compared to baseline (6.22% vs. 5.53%, P<0.001). These data demonstrate that reducing LA intake for 4 weeks increases n-3 LCPUFA status in humans in the absence of increased n-3 LCPUFA intake.
['Wood|K E|KE|', 'Lau|A|A|', 'Mantzioris|E|E|', 'Gibson|R A|RA|', 'Ramsden|C E|CE|', 'Muhlhausler|B S|BS|']
D000328:Adult D004032:Diet D004912:Erythrocytes D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 D005260:Female D006801:Humans D019787:Linoleic Acid D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010743:Phospholipids D055815:Young Adult
Diet Linoleic acid (LA) ALA Omega-3 PUFA Omega-6 PUFA