Very Low n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Status in Austrian Vegetarians and Vegans.

March 6, 2008

Colleagues,

This is why my recent statement about vegetarianism was so strong.

" Vegetarian " does not always guarantee " healthy " !!

Monika Woolsey

Ann Nutr Metab. 2008 Feb 28;52(1):37-47 [Epub ahead of print] Links

Very Low n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Status in Austrian

Vegetarians and Vegans. Kornsteiner M, Singer I, Elmadfa I.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of

Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Background/Aims: The objective of the study was to collect data on dietary fat

intake of omnivores, vegetarians, vegans and semi-omnivores as well as its

impact on n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in long-term markers such as sphingolipids,

phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)

as well as the calculated sphingo- and phospholipids (SPL) of erythrocytes.

Method: The present observational study included 98 Austrian adult volunteers of

both genders, of which 23 were omnivores, 25 vegetarians, 37 vegans, and 13

semi-omnivores. Information on anthropometry using measured body weight and

height was obtained. The amount and composition of ingested fat were calculated

from 24-hour recalls and the fatty acid pattern in the phospholipids was

assessed using gas chromatography. Results: The unbalanced n-6/n-3 ratio and the

limited dietary sources of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid

(DHA) in vegans and vegetarians led to reductions

in C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3, C22:6n-3 and total n-3 fatty acids in SPL, PC, PS and PE

compared with omnivores and semi-omnivores. The total content of polyunsaturated

fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids remained

unchanged. Conclusion: The vegetarian diet, with an average n-6/n-3 ratio of

10/1, promotes biochemical n-3 tissue decline. To ensure physical, mental and

neurological health vegetarians have to reduce the n-6/n-3 ratio with an

additional intake of direct sources of EPA and DHA, regardless of age and

Recommended Posts