DHA-enriched re-esterified triacylglycerol fish oil supplementation and oily fish consumption enhance red blood n-3 fatty acid index in Omani pre-adolescent schoolchildren

Publication date: Available online 12 July 2018Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty AcidsAuthor(s): S.S. Al-Ghannami, E. Sedlak, I.S. Hussein, Y. Min, S.M. Al-Shmmkhi, H.S. Al-Oufi, A. Al-Mazroui, P. Clough, K. GhebremeskelAbstractDietary habits of Omani population particularly of children and young adults have changed significantly. Consumption of imported calorie-dense foods, vegetable oils, milled and polished grains and carbonated beverages have become the norm. Concomitantly, there has been an exponential increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. The impact of the westernisation of eating habits on children has not been evaluated. We have investigated blood fatty acid profile of male (n=125) and female (n=160) children aged 9 and 10 (9.8±0.4) years enrolled from three state-funded schools. The schools, which are homogenous with respect to socio-economic background of their pupils, were randomised into fish oil (n=98), oily fish (n=82) or control (n=105) group. Subsequently, the children were given during morning tea break for 12 weeks: 1. DHA-enriched re-esterified triacylglycerol fish oil capsule with cheese/salad sandwich (fish oil group), 2. Lightly grilled oily fish with salad (fish group) or 3. Cheese/salad sandwich (control group). At baseline, the males had higher myristic, palmitic and oleic and lower adrenic acids than the females (p<0.05). There was no difference in n-3 fatty acid index (4.86±1.95 vs. 5.12±1.67, p>0.05)...
Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA) - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research