• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.995-1003
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• 1995

This study was conducted to asses the $\omega$-3 fatty acid intake levels and to evaluate the relationship between the levels of $\omega$-3 fatty acids in plasma and erythrocyte membrane and the dietary intake of these fatty acids over the period of two months in 56 young Korean females. Dietary survey was conducted to obtain 7-day weiged records and six 24-hour recalls. Fasting blood sample was collected from each subject after the dietary survey period. Mean daily intakes of energy, fat, and cholesterol were 1,569㎉, 41.8g, and 217mg, respectively. Fat suppled 24% of total energy intake. Mean daily intake levels of eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA), docosahexaenoic acid(DHA), and total $\omega$-3 fatty acids were 0.04g, 0.06g, and 0.48g, respectively. Plasma cholesterol levels of most of the subjects were within normal range, and there was no significant correlation between plasma cholesterol levels and intake levels of any specific fatty acid. Levels of EPA, DHA, EPA+DHA in plasma and erythrocyte membrane, but not the levels of $\alpha$-linolenic acid(LNA), were significantly correlated with dietary in take of respective fatty acids. Such a correlation, however, was not observed in a previous study where dietary intake was assessed for 3 days. The results of this study show that dietary intakes of $\omega$-3 fatty acids are low in the subject and that about two-month period is required to assess dietary intake levels of $\omega$-3 fatty acids with a reasonable accuracy.