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document
Increased dietary α-linolenic acid has sex-specific effects upon eicosapentaenoic acid status in humans : re-examination of data from a randomised , placebo-controlled , parallel study . BACKGROUND There is a metabolic pathway by which mammals can convert the omega-3 ( n-3 ) essential fatty acid α-linolenic acid ( ALA ) into longer-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( LC n-3 PUFA ) including eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ) and docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) . As far as we know there are currently no studies that have specifically examined sex differences in the LC n-3 PUFA response to increased dietary ALA intake in humans , although acute studies with isotope-labelled ALA identified that women have a significantly greater capacity to synthesise EPA and DHA from ALA compared to men . FINDINGS Available data from a placebo-controlled , randomised study were re-examined to identify whether there are sex differences in the LC n-3 PUFA response to increased dietary ALA intake in humans . There was a significant difference between sexes in the response to increased dietary ALA , with women having a significantly greater increase in the EPA content of plasma phospholipids ( mean +2.0 % of total fatty acids ) after six months of an ALA-rich diet compared to men ( mean +0.7 % , P = 0.039 ) . Age and BMI were identified as predictors of response to dietary ALA among women . CONCLUSIONS Women show a greater increase in circulating EPA than men during increased dietary ALA consumption . Further understanding of individual variation in the response to dietary ALA could inform nutrition advice , with recommendations being specifically tailored according to habitual diet , sex , age and BMI .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
dietary α-linolenic acid
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Participant_Sex
women
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Participant_Sex
men