1

OmegaOmega--3 Intakes in 3 Intakes in the UK & Options for the UK & Options for

IncreaseIncrease

Rachael A. GibbsRachael A. Gibbs

Omega 3 intakes Omega 3 intakes –– key issueskey issues� Knowledge of current intakes of EPA and DHA are

essential for developing strategies to increase them� Highlight sub-groups of the population whose intakes are

poor

� Knowing the contribution of different dietary sources to intakes is vital

�Choose the key foods which could enhance dietary intakes if enriched�Intake is a function of degree of enrichment and intake

of food

� Increasing intakes: enriching staple fat sources is a favourable option

�Including: animal-derived foods, margarine/spreads

Omega 3 polyunsaturatesOmega 3 polyunsaturates� Most important: ‘Very Long Chain’

�Eicosapentanoic Acid (EPA) C20:5 n-3

�Docosapentanoic Acid (DPA) C22:5 n-3�Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA) C22:6 n- 3

Primarily marine derived

Health benefits widely acknowledged

Not : Alpha Linolenic Acid ( C18:3 n-3 -ALA)

Primarily plant derived

�Human studies have revealed limited in vivo biosynthesis of Omega-3 (EPA and DHA) from Alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3)

�Slightly greater in females than males

�Meaningful concentrations can therefore only reach the body through the diet

α-linolenic acid

EPA

DHA

Biosynthesis of OmegaBiosynthesis of Omega--3 fatty acids3 fatty acids

Importance of dietary intakes

Recommended intakesRecommended intakes

0

200400600800

10001200

1400160018002000

2200

COMA (1994)

Mozaffarian et al. (2003)

SACN summary (2004)

Singh (1997)

Reduced CHD risk

Significant effect on CV risk factors

Prevention of reinfarction

Mg/

d

Current recommendation:

SACN (2004) 450mg/d

More potent physiological

effects ~ 1-2g/d

Main objectives Main objectives Provide estimations of current intakes through analysis of dietary survey data and literature

What proportion of the UK population eat oil-rich fish?

Are some population sub-groups consuming more than others?

What is the current EPA and DHA intake status?

What implications do these intakes have?

What is the potential impact of incorporating enriched animal-derived foods into the diet?

2

Dietary sources of Omega 3Dietary sources of Omega 3

??

?

Regular foods?

Enriched foods?

What factors may influence What factors may influence dietary intakes of Omegadietary intakes of Omega--3?3?

Gender Age

Income Foods consumed

Supplements

Consumption of Oily FishConsumption of Oily Fish(SACN, 2004)(SACN, 2004)

Consumers

Non-consumers

0

50

100

150

200

All Consumers

All

Consumers

Consumption (g/week)

27%

Methods for estimating intakesMethods for estimating intakes

2002 2002 NDNS/other NDNS/other

household household consumption consumption survey datasurvey data

M/F

Age

Food intakes

POTENTIAL

EPA and DHA concentrations in enriched foods –literature/Lab

CURRENT

EPA and DHA concentrations in

foods –literature/ lab

Estimated current EPA and DHA intakes from main dietary sources

Estimated potential EPA and DHA

intakes

2007 Low Income Diet and Nutrition

Survey (LIDNS)

Adjustments made where more appropriate

estimates available to give best

representation

UK adult EPA and DHA intakes UK adult EPA and DHA intakes -- based on consumption based on consumption

(Givens and Gibbs, 2006)(Givens and Gibbs, 2006)

199

4.1

26

8.80 0

244

0

50

100

150

200

250

Current mean intake from Fish:

199mg/d

Total mean intake inc. other

foods: 244mg/d (inc. fish)

Beef +

VealPoultry Eggs: table

and others

Semi-

skimmed

milk

Full fat

cheese

EPA + DHA intake (mg/d)

Givens, D I and Gibbs, R A. (2006). Nutrition Bulletin 31, 104-110.

Fish Total

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Southern

Europe

Mid

Europe

Northern

Europe

Japan North

America

Inta

ke o

f EPA

+ D

HA (

mg

per

day

)

EPA+DHA intake around the world EPA+DHA intake around the world ((VermuntVermunt & & ZockZock, 2007), 2007)

UK 244mg/d

3

What factors may influence What factors may influence dietary intakes of Omegadietary intakes of Omega--3?3?

Gender Age

Income Foods consumed

Supplements

Consumption of Oily Fish: the Consumption of Oily Fish: the ‘‘age effectage effect’’

(derived from NDNS, 2002) (Gibbs (derived from NDNS, 2002) (Gibbs et al., et al., UnpubUnpub.).)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% c

onsu

mer

s

19-24 25-34 35-49 50-64

Age group

Male

Female

Male consumers(exc. cannedtuna)

Femaleconsumers (exc.canned tuna)

25%

� Canned tuna not classed as an oily fish

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

19-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+

EPA

DHA

Total

Effect of age on Omega 3 status: Effect of age on Omega 3 status: plasma biomarkersplasma biomarkers

Age group P=0.000

% t

otal

fat

ty a

cids

in p

lasm

a

Gibbs, Minihaneet al., (Unpub.)

Age group

Gender = Not sig

Gender*age = Not sig

Fish intake P=0.000

Implications of age effectImplications of age effect

�Currently, our young people are vastly under-consuming Omega-3

�If this continues, the potential benefits derived from Omega-3 in later life may be compromised

�This, coupled with increased levels of obesity and low physical activity could represent a hugely increased economic and welfare burden

What factors may influence What factors may influence dietary intakes of Omegadietary intakes of Omega--3?3?

Gender Age

Income Foods consumed

Low income (LI) vs. National (N) Low income (LI) vs. National (N) (Gibbs (Gibbs et al., et al., UnpubUnpub))

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

‘Age effect’ is seen in low income group as well as National

group = Lowest intakes in LI group are in younger people

Inta

ke E

PA+D

HA

mg/

d

LI NFish Derived

LI NAnimal Derived

LI NTotal

Based on ‘Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey’ (Nelson et al., 2007)

4

How can intakes be increased?How can intakes be increased?

Fish oil supplements

Increased oily fish consumption

Enriched foods

Omega-3 spread

Use of Cod liver oil and other Use of Cod liver oil and other fishfish--based supplementsbased supplements

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Male Female

19-24

25-34

35-49

50-64

All

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Males Females

19-34

35-49

50-64

65+

All

NDNS, 2002 Low Income DNS, 2007

•Use appears to increase with age

•Fewer Low Income Consumers take these supplements

34%

46%

7% 12%

% C

onsu

mer

s

Fish oil supplementsFish oil supplements�Advantages:

�Convenient

�Potential to provide high doses conveniently

�Disadvantages:

�Cost

�Compliance/irregular use

�Wide variability in composition and strength

�Confusing to consumer

Enriched animalEnriched animal--derived foodsderived foods

Impact on the diet

Enriched foods

Omega-3 spread

EPA and DHA intakes from normal and enriched EPA and DHA intakes from normal and enriched foods foods -- based on consumption based on consumption

(Givens and Gibbs, 2006)(Givens and Gibbs, 2006)

4.110

26

121

8.8

54

0

13

0

24

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Normal

Enriched

Current mean intake from fish:

199mg/d

Current mean intake from animal-

derived foods: 45mg/d

Total mean intake: 244mg/d

Potential mean intake from

‘enriched’ animal-derived

foods: 231 mg/d

Beef +

VealPoultry Eggs: table

and others

Semi-

skimmed

milk

Full fat

cheese

EPA + DHA intake (mg/d)

Givens, D I and Gibbs, R A. (2006). Nutrition Bulletin 31, 104-110.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Int

ake E

PA+D

HA

mg/

pers

on/d

ay

Age group/gender

Current and predicted mean intakes of EPA+DHA

across age groups (derived from NDNS, 2002)

Male Female

FishCurrent

Animal-

derived

FishCurrent

Animal-

derived

Potential

Animal-

derived

Potential

Animal-

derived

19-24 25-34 35-49 50-64

Gibbs et al. (Unpub.)

5

Low income (LI) vs. National (N)Low income (LI) vs. National (N)(Gibbs (Gibbs et al., et al., UnpubUnpub))

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

current

potential

current

potential

Inta

ke E

PA+D

HA

mg/

d

LI NFish Derived

LI NAnimal Derived

LI NTotal

Based on ‘Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey’ (Nelson et al., 2007)

SummarySummary Oily fish consumption is low (27%)

Mean EPA+DHA intake 244mg/dYounger people

currently have the lowest intakes of EPA

and DHA: result of very low fish consumption

Low Income groupshave lower mean

intakes (198mg/d): result of lower fish

consumptionOptions for increase

Oily fish cons.

Supplements

Enriched foods

Replace regular animal derived foods with enriched ones:

231mg/d from animal-derived

Potential mean total intake inc. fish: 430mg/d

Of particular benefit to people who habitually consume more animal derived foods than fish

Thank you!Thank you!

This work is a component of Lipgene, an Integrated Project funded by the European Union Sixth Framework Programme

www.ucd.ie/lipgene