Key Points
Despite the apparent essentiality of long-chain PUFA for optimal development of the nervous system, a specific dietary reference intake (DRI) for EPA and DHA in North America is lacking. Current recommendations set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) have established an adequate intake for the shorter-chain precursor, ALA, at 700 mg/d for children 1 to 3 years old while allowing for up to 10% of the adequate intake for ALA to be in the form of EPA plus DHA (ie, 70 mg/d). Because of concerns regarding contaminants and other factors, fish intake, the primary source of EPA and DHA, in young children is particularly low.
The most appropriate method to evaluate dietary n-3 PUFA intake in any population is by means of direct fatty acid analysis of the total food consumed over a given period. The primary objective of the current study was to directly analyze and quantify the dietary fatty acid intake of Canadian toddlers (2-3 years of age) with an emphasis on EPA/DHA. The data showed that the average daily consumption of the total n-3 PUFA quantified by GC was 763 ± 73 mg/d. ALA (710 ± 69.7 mg/d) was found to be the major n-3 PUFA consumed. Mean daily intakes of long chain n-3 PUFA as EPA and DHA directly quantified were 9.6 ± 2.9mg and 19.2 ± 6.8mg, respectively (28.8 ± 9.5mg/d of EPA plus DHA combined). With respect to the intake of EPA and DHA combined, the diets assessed were woefully insufficient. Of the 20 diets analyzed, only 5% of children met or exceeded the recommendations for EPA/DHA established by Health Canada, IOM, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. These results collectively highlight the apparent nutrient gap between international recommendations and actual intakes of long-chain n-3 PUFA consumed by children aged 2 to 3 years old. Fish/seafood consumption has changed very little in the past 2 decades based on over all US population data. The major source of dietary fat in the observed age group is milk/dairy fat—essentially devoid of ALA and long-chain n-3 PUFAs as EPA and DHA. The very low intakes of EPA and DHA as assessed by direct fatty acid quantification reported herein indicate an apparent need for increased emphasis regarding their contribution to pediatric health among health care providers and the general public
ABSTRACT
To date, few studies have evaluated the intake of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in young North American children and current estimates are based on indirect approaches which have concerning limitations. Furthermore, there is a lack of available knowledge regarding the proportion of children meeting current dietary recommendations for the consumption of long-chain n-3 PUFA as α-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The objective of the present study was to directly quantify the intake of n-3 PUFA in toddlers aged 2 to 3 years and determine if intakes met international recommendations. Given the low intakes of fish in North America, we predicted that n-3 PUFA intakes in toddlers would fall short of recommended intakes. Duplicated diets were collected from 20 Canadian children over a 3-day period. Diets were then directly analyzed by gas chromatography. Daily intakes (means ± SEM) of ALA, EPA, and DHA were as follows: 710.1 ± 69.7, 9.6 ± 2.9, and 19.2 ± 6.8 mg/d, respectively. Compared with North American dietary reference intakes, 45% of our children met the minimal recommended intake of ALA, whereas only 5% consumed the target intake of EPA plus DHA. These results indicate that Canadian children aged 2 to 3 years struggle to consume adequate intakes of the n-3 PUFA ALA and particularly EPA/DHA; efforts to narrow this gap should focus on increasing EPA and DHA intakes by appropriate fish/seafood consumption along with enriched foods or supplements if necessary.
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