The influence of fish consumption on serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations in women of childbearing age: a randomised controlled trial (the iFish Study)

• Published in: European journal of nutrition 2021-04, Vol.60 (3), p.1415-1427
• Main Authors: Conway, Marie C., McSorley, Emeir M., Mulhern, Maria S., Spence, Toni, Wijngaarden, Edwin van, Watson, Gene E., Wahlberg, Karin, Pineda, Daniela, Broberg, Karin, Hyland, Barry W., Cobice, Diego F., Strain, J. J., Yeates, Alison J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Animals; Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Desaturase; Dietary intake; Docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Environmental Health and Occupational Health; Fatty Acid Desaturases - genetics; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Fishes; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Health Sciences; Humans; Hälsovetenskap; Inflammation; Linoleic Acid; Linolenic acid; Lipids; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Nutrition; Nutrition and Dietetics; Näringslära; Original Contribution; Oxidative stress; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Womens health
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-020-02326-w

Purpose Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) can be synthesised endogenously from linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) in a pathway involving the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes. Endogenous synthesis is inefficient; therefore, dietary intake of preformed LCPUFA from their richest source of fish is preferred. This study investigated the effect of fish consumption on PUFA concentrations in women of childbearing age while stratifying by FADS genotype. The influence of fish consumption on lipid profile, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress was also examined. Methods Healthy women ( n  = 49) provided a buccal swab which was analysed for FADS2 genotype (rs3834458; T/deletion). Participants were stratified according to genotype and randomised to an intervention group to receive either no fish ( n  = 18), 1 portion ( n  = 14) or 2 portions ( n  = 17) (140 g per portion) of fish per week for a period of 8 weeks. Serum PUFA was analysed at baseline and post-intervention. Lipid profile, and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were also analysed. Results Participants consuming 2 portions of fish per week had significantly higher concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total n-3 PUFA, and a lower n-6:n-3 ratio compared to those in the no fish or 1 portion per week group (all p