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Despite the known and varied health benefits of n3 fatty acids, current US intakes are lower than national (1-6) and international (7) recommendations, and considerable confusion exists about safe and biologically active sources of n3 fatty acids. Confusion also exists about how the dietary recommendations for these nutrients are set; in particular, it is not clear whether n3 fatty acids are best obtained from sources containing preformed eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It is also not clear how intakes of n6 and n3 fatty acid precursors affect the interconversion to biologically active forms.
The symposium "n3 Fatty Acids: Recommendations for Therapeutics and Prevention" was convened by the Institute of Human Nutrition of Columbia University on 21 May 2005. The goals of the symposium were 1) to increase awareness among health professionals of the biological benefits of n3 fatty acids and the adverse effects of inadequate n3 fatty acid consumption by large segments of the population and 2) to translate basic science findings related to the specific long-chain n3 fatty acids EPA and DHA into strategies for the prevention of disease or improved health in clinical practice and public health settings. The proceedings of the symposium and a workshop that followed are summarized in the present journal supplement.
In reviewing the literature, the discussants were asked to assess whether single n3 fatty acids [-linolenic acid (ALA), EPA, or DHA] or their combination were responsible for the biological effects and, where possible, to provide recommendations for intake of a specific n3 fatty acid or a combination of n3 fatty acids. Suboptimal intake of DHA, for example, is a significant public health issue for persons of all ages. Adequate consumption of DHA has ramifications throughout the life cycle, ranging from effects in women of childbearing age and developing fetuses to those in the very old and including effects on the development of heart disease and dementia. The discussants provided a comprehensive overview of how suboptimal intake of n3 fatty acids affects health at every stage of the life cycle.
Collectively, higher intakes of n3 fatty acids could affect many heath issues, including the following:
The conference and workshop and these proceedings aim to assist researchers and health professional to
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