Studies on Intake and Serum Concentrations of Fatty Acids in Korean Adolescents

In this study, we evaluated the dietary fatty-acid pattern and serum fatty-acid composition of middle school students (total, 355 ; male, 182 ; female, 173), who are vulnerable to excessive and unbalanced food intakes such as fatty acids and energy. In serum lipid levels, total Chol (p<0.05) and HDL-Chol (p<0.001) levels of female students were significantly higher than those of mal, students. The average fat intake was 23-26 energy % which falls in with the current recommendation level (15-25%) for adults. Although the average P/M/S ratio of dietary fat was 1.1/1.2/1.0 which approaches the recommended ratio, the average range of $\omega$6/$\omega$3 fatty acid ratio of dietary fat was found to be 12.0-16.5, which is higher than the presently recommended range of 4 -10. Some of the very high values found in this study were partly explained by the fact that the range of individual variation of $\omega$6/$\omega$3 ratios was very large. Mean daily intake of Chol was 357-361 mg. The n3 fatty acid intake of middle school students was higher in the LFHM (high fish low meat) group than in the LFHM (low fish high meat) group. EPA and DHA intakes appeared to be significantly higher (p<0.01) in the HFLM group than in the LFHM group as expected. Dietary total $\omega$3 fatty acids (p<0.05) and EPA (p<0.01) were also negatively associated with serum AA($\omega$6) levels. Interestingly, energy intakes and dietary SEAs such as 12 : 0 (p<0.05), 14 : 0 (p<0.01) and 16 : 0 (p<0.05) were negatively associated with serum AA ($\omega$6) levels. To lower the $\omega$6/$\omega$3 ratio of dietary fatty acids for children, frequent consumption of $\omega$3 series fatty-acid rich foods such as soy bean, bean products and fish is recommended. Detailed guidelines should be developed in recommending balanced food intake and qualitative fat intake for Korean adolescents taking heterogeneous groups into consideration. In accurately evaluating fatty acid intake, it is also necessary to have the fatty acid composition data of all foods consumed in each country.