Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 209-216 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | LIPIDS |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Sept 2023 |
Abstract
Oily fish is rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which have been associated with several health benefits. However, fish consumption is generally low in many countries, including the Middle East, resulting in low omega-3 blood levels. In Palestine, no data on the omega-3 blood status is available. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the omega-3 status and related factors in young healthy subjects from Palestine. Omega-3 status was assessed using the Omega-3 Index-defined as the sum of EPA + DHA in relation to the total fatty acid content of erythrocytes. A total of 149 subjects, 50 males and 99 females (age range: 18-24 years), were included in the study. In addition to the Omega-3 Index, data on anthropometrics, physical activity, smoking status, fish intake, dietary supplement intake, blood lipid profile, and whole erythrocyte fatty acid pattern were collected. The mean (SD) Omega-3 Index was 2.56 (0.57)%, with 97.9% of subjects having an index below 4%. The majority of participants (91.8%) consumed less than two portions of fish per week, and only 4% reported taking omega-3 supplements, mostly irregularly. Our findings show that young Palestinian students have an alarmingly low omega-3 status. Further studies are needed to investigate whether the omega-3 status is also low in the general Palestinian population.
Keywords
- DHA, EPA, fish intake, Middle East, omega-3, PUFA
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry(all)
- Organic Chemistry
Cite this
- Standard
- Harvard
- Apa
- Vancouver
- BibTeX
- RIS
In: LIPIDS, Vol. 58, No. 5, 10.09.2023, p. 209-216.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Very low Omega-3 Index in young healthy students from Palestine
AU - Almasri, Feras
AU - Badrasawi, Manal
AU - Zahdeh, Rana
AU - Hahn, Andreas
AU - Schuchardt, Jan Philipp
AU - Greupner, Theresa
N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank the participants who contributed their time to this project. This work was partly supported by grants from the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF, FKZ: 01DH19003) to Andreas Hahn and Jan Philipp Schuchardt. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.
PY - 2023/9/10
Y1 - 2023/9/10
N2 - Oily fish is rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which have been associated with several health benefits. However, fish consumption is generally low in many countries, including the Middle East, resulting in low omega-3 blood levels. In Palestine, no data on the omega-3 blood status is available. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the omega-3 status and related factors in young healthy subjects from Palestine. Omega-3 status was assessed using the Omega-3 Index-defined as the sum of EPA + DHA in relation to the total fatty acid content of erythrocytes. A total of 149 subjects, 50 males and 99 females (age range: 18-24 years), were included in the study. In addition to the Omega-3 Index, data on anthropometrics, physical activity, smoking status, fish intake, dietary supplement intake, blood lipid profile, and whole erythrocyte fatty acid pattern were collected. The mean (SD) Omega-3 Index was 2.56 (0.57)%, with 97.9% of subjects having an index below 4%. The majority of participants (91.8%) consumed less than two portions of fish per week, and only 4% reported taking omega-3 supplements, mostly irregularly. Our findings show that young Palestinian students have an alarmingly low omega-3 status. Further studies are needed to investigate whether the omega-3 status is also low in the general Palestinian population.
AB - Oily fish is rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which have been associated with several health benefits. However, fish consumption is generally low in many countries, including the Middle East, resulting in low omega-3 blood levels. In Palestine, no data on the omega-3 blood status is available. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the omega-3 status and related factors in young healthy subjects from Palestine. Omega-3 status was assessed using the Omega-3 Index-defined as the sum of EPA + DHA in relation to the total fatty acid content of erythrocytes. A total of 149 subjects, 50 males and 99 females (age range: 18-24 years), were included in the study. In addition to the Omega-3 Index, data on anthropometrics, physical activity, smoking status, fish intake, dietary supplement intake, blood lipid profile, and whole erythrocyte fatty acid pattern were collected. The mean (SD) Omega-3 Index was 2.56 (0.57)%, with 97.9% of subjects having an index below 4%. The majority of participants (91.8%) consumed less than two portions of fish per week, and only 4% reported taking omega-3 supplements, mostly irregularly. Our findings show that young Palestinian students have an alarmingly low omega-3 status. Further studies are needed to investigate whether the omega-3 status is also low in the general Palestinian population.
KW - DHA
KW - EPA
KW - fish intake
KW - Middle East
KW - omega-3
KW - PUFA
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85161649568&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/lipd.12375
DO - 10.1002/lipd.12375
M3 - Article
C2 - 37300456
VL - 58
SP - 209
EP - 216
JO - LIPIDS
JF - LIPIDS
SN - 0024-4201
IS - 5
ER -