TITLE:
Plasma Phospholipid Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Freshwater Fish Consumption in the Brazilian Amazon
AUTHORS:
Aline Philibert, Myriam Fillion, Jason Robert DeGuire, Hope Alberta Weiler, Carlos José Sousa Passos, Melanie Lemire, Donna Mergler
KEYWORDS:
Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids; Omega-3; EPA; DHA; Fish Consumption; Gender; Brazil; Amazon
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.4 No.9A,
August
30,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Background: Amazonian
riverside communities consume large quantities of freshwater fish, comparable to marine fish consumption
of Inuit, Scandinavian and Japanese populations. Few studies have considered
the relation of high freshwater fish consumption and intake of omega-3 fatty
acids (FA). Objective: The objective
of the present study was to determine the profile of the concentrations of
plasma phospholipid FAs and its relation with freshwater fish
intake in 12 riverside communities in the Tapajós River basin (State of Pará, Brazilian Amazon). Design: This
cross-sectional study included 333 adults (15 - 86 years old). Fish meal frequency was
determined using a 7-day interview-administered dietary recall
questionnaire. Fish were categorized as
piscivorous and non-piscivorous fish on trophic level. Plasma phospholipid FAs were
measured by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Results: Participants consumed 5 to 6 fish meals a week,
with twice as many non-piscivorous fish than piscivorous fish (4.4 fish/week vs
2.2 fish/week, respectively). The omega-3 FA levels in plasma phospholipids were
low (EPA + DHA = 31.21 mg/L; %EPA + DHA = 2.59%). Omega-3 FAs increased with
frequency of fish intake, and particularly with piscivorous fish, controlling for sociodemographic,
anthropometric and lifestyle characteristics. DHA levels were greater
in women than in men. Conclusions: Omega-3 FA in this Amazonian population
increased with fish consumption, but although they consumed freshwater fish
almost daily, the concentrations of omega-3 FA were relatively low and
comparable to fish-eater communities for which fish is not a dietary mainstay.
It is possible that nutrients present in marine, but not in certain freshwater
fish species, may facilitate absorption of omega-3 FA. Sex and/or gender differences
must be taken into account when assessing the relationship between fish
consumption and plasma phospholipid omega-3 FA levels.