• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.sup1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2022

This paper examines the process and evidence used to create the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for Koreans. ALA (18:3n3) is an essential fatty acid, and EPA and DHA are known to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease risk and reduction of triglyceride levels. Various international organizations have suggested dietary recommendations for n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including ALA, EPA, and DHA. A DRI for Koreans was established for the first time in 2020, specifically for the adequate intake (AI) of ALA and EPA + DHA. This recommendation was based on the average intake of ALA and EPA + DHA from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2017. For Korean infants, the AI of ALA and DHA was based on the fatty acid composition of maternal milk. Estimated average requirement and a tolerable upper intake level have not been set for n-3 PUFA due to insufficient evidence. In addition, the intake level of n-3 PUFA for prevention of chronic disease has also not been determined. Future studies and randomized controlled trials are required to establish the UL and to define the level for disease prevention.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the influences of dietary levels, ratios and sources of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the growth and fatty acid compositions of juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Sixteen diets containing five levels of EPA (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 4.0%), five levels of DHA (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 4.0%), three ratios of EPA/DHA (75/25, 50/50 and 25/75), two levels of squid liver oil (5% and 10%) and a control diet containing 5% soybean oil were hand-fed to triplicate groups of fish (average weight, $9.7{\pm}0.3g$) for 8 weeks. Survival, specific growth rate, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish were not affected by dietary EPA and DHA levels or ratios. Also, the dietary treatment had no significant effect on the lipid and protein contents of muscle and whole body of fish. A corresponding increase in the EPA and DHA contents of fish occurred with increasing EPA and DHA levels in their diets. Our results suggest that juvenile olive flounder require a dietary EPA level of approximately 0.32% in the presence of 0.74% DHA for suitable survival and growth, and that EPA and DHA levels in fish muscle can increase to as much as 32% and 53%, respectively, of the total fatty acid content.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.144-155
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• 2024

Objectives: This study evaluated dietary intake and food sources of essential fatty acids in Korean adolescents. Methods: This study was comprised of 3,932 adolescents (9-18 years) who participated in the 2016-2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Dietary intake and food sources of essential fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linoleic acid (LA) were evaluated using data obtained from one-day 24-hour dietary recall. The proportions of adolescents consuming ALA, EPA + DHA, and LA above or below the adequate intake (AI) of the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans were calculated. All statistical analyses accounted for the complex sampling design effect and appropriate sample weights. Results: The mean intakes of ALA, EPA, DHA, and LA among Korean adolescents were 1.29 g/day, 69.6 mg/day, 166.0 mg/day, and 11.1 g/day, respectively. Boys had higher intakes of all essential fatty acids compared to girls. By age group, adolescents aged 15-18 years showed lower intakes of EPA and DHA compared to adolescents in younger age groups. The 9-11-year-old adolescents had lower intakes of ALA and LA than older adolescents. The proportions of adolescents who consumed more than AI were 35.7% for ALA, 30.4% for EPA + DHA, and 41.5% for LA. Adherence to the AI for ALA did not differ by sex or age group, although boys showed a lower adherence to the AI for EPA + DHA than girls. Major food sources for ALA and LA were plant-based oils, mayonnaise, pork, and eggs. Mackerel was the most significant contributor to EPA and DHA intake (EPA, 22.6%; DHA, 22.2%), followed by laver, squid, and anchovy. Conclusions: The proportion of Korean adolescents who consumed EPA + DHA more than AI was low. Our findings highlight that nutrition education emphasizing an intake of essential fatty acids from healthy food sources is needed among Korean adolescents.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 1999

The effects of dietary n-3 fatty acids, ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (18:3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6), on brain phospholipid content and fatty acid composition were compared in rats fed with a diet containing constant ratios of saturated fatty acid/monounsaturated fatty acid/polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n-3/n-6. The dietary fat in each diet was added at the level of 10%. In each diet, n-3 PUFA comprised two-thirds of the PUFA and the remaining one-third was linoleic acid (18:2). Dietary fat containing linoleic acid as the sole source of PUFA was also given to the control group. The content of brain phospholipid in the three n-3 PUFA groups was significantly lower than that of the linoleic acid group. This reduction was greater in the EPA and DHA groups than in the ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid group. The decrease in phospholipid content in rats fed n-3 fatty acid-rich diets was largely due to the decrease in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction. Each dietary n-3 PUFA was found to affect the fatty acid composition of brain phospholipids; the most pronounced alteration was observed in phosphatidylethanolamine fraction. Furthermore, the proportion of DHA in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction tended to be higher in the DHA group than in other PUFA groups. In conclusion, dietary ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid, EPA and DHA can influence the phospholipid content, phospholipid subclass, and fatty acid composition in rat brain.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.626-636
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• 2001

To compare the effect of three kinds of n-3 fatty acids-eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA), docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) and perilla oil (PO)-on serum and liver lipid levels and fatty acid composition of liver phospholipid(PL) at low fat level(5%, w/w), 4-weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with one of five different oil diets for 4 weeks. Beef tallow(BT) and corn oil(CO) was used as control for sturated or n-6 fatty acid respectively. Se겨m concentrations of cholesterol(TC) and phospholipid(PL) were lower in PO DHA and EPA groups than in BT and CO groups. HDL-cholesterol levels were higher in CO and PO groups than in EPA, DHA and BT groups. Liver PL concentrations were higher in DHA and EPA groups than in CO, PO and BT groups, but liver TC and heal PL and TC concentrations did not show any significant difference among groups. Hepatic fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), two major phospholipids in liver, reflected their dietary fatty acid composition. In PC and PE, total percentage own-6 series was higher in CO group than in any other groups, and that own-3 series was higher in DHA and PO groups than in EPA, CO and BT groups. Moreover, the ratio of 20 : 4/18 : 2 was lower in PO and DHA groups than in EPA, CO and BT groups. On the contrary, the percentage of C22 : 6 was lower in EPA, CO and BT groups than in PO and DHA groups. These results revealed that n-3 series(EPA, DHA and PO) were more effective in lowering um lipids than n-6 fatty acids or saturated fatty acid. Based on the results of fatty acid composition of hepatic phospholipid, we suggest that the dietary effect of PO and DHA on antiatherogenic characteristics seems to be similar extent. In addition, the effect of EPA might not be significantly different from that of BT or CO in the view of eicosanoids production from the precursor fatty acid. These difference of hepatic fatty acid composition might come from other characteristics of dietary oil as well as the type of unsaturation, not from the carbon chain length or the degree of unsaturation of n-3 fatty acid.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.231-235
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• 2006

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of dietary fish oil inclusion on the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contents and organoleptic characteristics of breast meat in mule ducks. Three hundred mule ducks at four weeks of age were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments with five replicate pens in each. One replicate pen had ten males and females each with a total of 100 ducks in each treatment. The diet in the three treatments contained 0, 1.5, and 3.0% fish oil, respectively. Body weights at 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks of age, and feed efficiency at 4 to 6, 6 to 8, and 8 to 10 weeks of age were recorded. At 10 weeks of age, one male and one female from each replicate were sacrificed for oxidative stability of breast meat and the sacrificed males were employed for the analysis of fatty acids in breast meat and skin. Sensory evaluation of breast meat was also performed. A level of 3.0% fish oil in the diet significantly deteriorated feed efficiency and body weight gain. Dietary fish oil inclusion had a trend of increasing abdominal fat deposition and decreasing the flavor of breast meat. The EPA and DHA contents in the breast meat were higher than those in the breast skin irrespective of oil sources. The EPA and DHA contents in breast meat and breast skin was significantly increased in the 3.0% fish oil group. Although EPA and DHA were not efficiently deposited in the duck meat through dietary fish oil inclusion, this method can still provide a partial supplementation of EPA and DHA.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.420-430
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• 1991

To compare the hypolipidemic effects of n6 linoleic acid. n3 $\alpha$-linolenic acid and n3 eicosapentaenoic acid in rats fed high carbohydrate(70% Cal) diet. male Sprague Dawley rats were fed different experimental diets for 6 weeks. which were different only in fatty acid composition. The dietary fats were beer tallow(BT) as a source of saturated fatty acid (SFA), corn oil(CO) for n6 linoleic acid(LA), perilla oil(PO) for n3 $\alpha$-linolenic acid(LL) and fish oil(FO) for n3 eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Plasma total cholesterol(Chol) level was increased by n6 LA but decreased by n3 LL and n3 EPA and most effectively reduced by n3 EPA. HDL-Chol level was raised by n6 LA, but there was no significant change in HDL-Chol levels by n3 LL and was lowered by n3 EPA. Plasma TG level was reduced by n6 LA, but lipogenesis in liver was not affected by n6 LA. However, plasma TG level was lowered by n3 LL and EPA. Both lipogenic enzyme activity and liver TC level were also decreased by n3 PUFA. The relative proportions of TG in VLDL was significantly lowered by n3 EPA. but the proportions of Apo B in VLDL was not changed by n3 EPA. Overall. the hypolipidemic effect was in the order of EPA+ DHA(n3) >LL(n3) >LA(n6) and fish oil and perilla oil rich in n3 PUFA may have important nutritional applications in the prevention and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 1999

The effects of eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA, 22:6n-3) on the phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$)-mediated release of arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) were studied in kidney microsomes from rats fed diets containing sunflower oil (SO) or fish oil (FO) concentrate for 11 months. The amounts of AA released by the endogenous $PLA_2$ enzyme were significantly lower by 38% in the FO, compared to the SO-fed rats (23.2 nmol versus 60.7 nmol AA released/mg protein/h in the FO- and SO-treated groups, respectively). The FO-derived microsomes released less linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) and adrenic acid (22:4n-6), but larger amounts of the n-3 fatty acids, including EPA, DHA, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3), and 20:4n-3 than the SO-derived microsomes. A similar replacement of the AA and adrenic acid with the n-3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA was also observed in the microsomal phospholipid fraction from the FO-fed rats relative to the SO-treated group. The results suggest that the $PLA_2$-mediated release of AA is reduced and that of EPA is increased in compensation for AA decline in kidney microsomes from FO-fed rats (0.7 nmol EPA/mg protein/h versus 22.7 nmol EPA/mg protein/h for the SO and FO-treated groups). Replacement of the n-6 with n-3 fatty acids may explain the reduced synthesis of the AA-derived prostaglandins and the concomitant rise in the EPA-derived prostaglandins observed in kidneys of FO-treated rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.537-551
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• 1994

The dietry effects of marine n-3, plant n-3 and plant n-6 fatty acid on serum lipids levels, liver phospholipid fatty acid composition in rat were investigated. Four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats, 30 weeks old, were fed on one of 4 different experimental diets for 4 weeks. The diets were composed of 15% fat(w/w) of either concentrated EPA oil(20:5, n-3 : 65%), fish oil(20:5, n-3 : 19%, 22:6, n-3 : 18%), perilla oil(18:3, n-3 : 60%) or corn oil(18:2, n-6 : 49%). Blood was initially taken before experimental feeding and also taken after 2 weeks and 4 weeks feeding the diet respectively and then examined for the levels of serum lipids. Rats were sacrificed at 4 weeks after the diet for the analysis of liver phospholipid fatty acid. EPA feeding remarkably decreased the serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and total phospholipid than any other oil feeding. Fish oil feeding decreased serum HDL-cholesterol level comparable to the effect of EPA feeding and decreased total cholesterol and phospholipid less than but close to the effect of EPA feeding. Perilla oil feeding did not change serum levels of triglyceride and phospholipid, but it decreased serum total cholesterol a lot and HDL-cholesterol a little. Corn oil feeding did not affect triglyceride and total cholesterol while it increased serum level of HDL-cholesterol and total phospholipid. Serum HDL-cholesterol level was increased only in corn oil group. But contrary to the result of serum total phospholipid, liver phospholipid level found to be higher in fish oil and EPA groups than in perilla oil and corn groups. The fatty acid composition of liver phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine(PC) and phosphatidyl ethanolamine(PE) turned out to be affected by dietary fatty acid. 18:2 of liver PC was the lowest in FO group following CO group. The ratio of 20:4/18:2 was lower in PO group than in EPA group in consequence of higher 18:2 and lower 20:4 in PO group and vise versa in EPA group. In the liver PC and PE, similar trends in the ratios of n-6/n-3 and 20:4/18 were found showing higher ratios with CO and EPA group over FO and PO group. EPA group showed the lowest level of 20:5 and lower level of 20:6 than group. Fish oil was more efficient than EPA oil and PO in lowering the ratio of n-6/n-3 in consequence of the highest 22:6, and the lowest 18:2 in liver phospholipid. But PO lowers the ratio or 20:4/18 more than FO. In conclusion, EPA oil was more effective in lowering serum lipids than FO and PO. Reviewing the dietary effect of fatty acid on eicosanoids composition in rats, it is considered that more possibility was with FO than PO in the effectiveness of atherosclerosis prevention and more with PO than with EPA oil. It was also found that FO showed more effective than EPA oil for atherosclerosis prevention. It was hardly found that CO had any effect on lowering serum lipids and on eicosanoids composition in liver phospholipid for the prevention of atherosclerosis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.712-726
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• 1994

Feeding trials were conducted to determine the essentiality of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and to compare the efficiency between EPA and DHA for juvenile Korean rockfish. Fish averaging 2.1 g were fed experimental diets containing different levels of EPA or DHA, and different combinations of EPA and DHA in two separate experiments. Graded levels ($0.0{\sim}l.75\%$) of dietary EPA or DHA as ethyl esters were substituted for a part of the $8\%$ beef tallow in the basal diet. After 5 weeks of the experimental period, weight gain, chemical composition of whole body, protein and lipid retention efficiency, hepatosomatic index, and fatty acid composition of liver were measured. Daily growth rate and feed efficiency were the lowest in fish fed the diets without EPA arid DHA. These responses were effectively improved by increasing EPA or DHA in the diets up to $1.0\%$ levels, and then reached a plateau between 1.0 and $1.75\%$ levels of either EPA or DHA. Protein and lipid retention efficiency were also improved with the high levels of dietary EPA or DHA. DHA was superior to EPA at the same level of each in weight gain, feed efficiency, and protein and lipid retention efficiency. Hepatosomatic index tended to decrease with increase of the dietary EPA or DHA levels. Lipid contents of whole body were increased with levels of EPA or DHA in the diets. Dietary EPA and/or DHA levels affected directly the fatty acid composition of liver polar lipid. EPA or DHA in the liver polar lipid were increased with levels of dietary EPA or DHA, respectively, whereas those in nonpolar lipid were not affected by the dietary levels of EPA and/or DHA. These finding indicate that either of the EPA or DHA is essential for normal growth of Korean rockfish, and the essential fatty acid requirement is $1.0\%$ of EPA and/or DHA in the diet. DHA is superior to EPA as essential fatty acid, and the dietary EPA/DHA ratio of less than 1.0 may be adequate for normal growth of Korean rockfish fed a diet enough n-3HUFA (EPA and DHA).