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Comparative Study
. 2016 Feb 24;8(3):111.
doi: 10.3390/nu8030111.

Australians are not Meeting the Recommended Intakes for Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Results of an Analysis from the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey

Barbara J Meyer  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Australians are not Meeting the Recommended Intakes for Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Results of an Analysis from the 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey

Barbara J Meyer. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Health benefits have been attributed to omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA). Therefore it is important to know if Australians are currently meeting the recommended intake for n-3 LCPUFA and if they have increased since the last National Nutrition Survey in 1995 (NNS 1995). Dietary intake data was obtained from the recent 2011-2012 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (2011-2012 NNPAS). Linoleic acid (LA) intakes have decreased whilst alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) and n-3 LCPUFA intakes have increased primarily due to n-3 LCPUFA supplements. The median n-3 LCPUFA intakes are less than 50% of the mean n-3 LCPUFA intakes which highlights the highly-skewed n-3 LCPUFA intakes, which shows that there are some people consuming high amounts of n-3 LCPUFA, but the vast majority of the population are consuming much lower amounts. Only 20% of the population meets the recommended n-3 LCPUFA intakes and only 10% of women of childbearing age meet the recommended docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake. Fish and seafood is by far the richest source of n-3 LCPUFA including DHA.

Keywords: Australian 2011–2012 national nutrition and physical activity survey; dietary intakes; n-3 LCPUFA; recommended n-3 LCPUFA intakes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of the median and mean n-3 LCPUFA intakes from food and supplements per age category.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Australian women’s consumption of n-3 LCPUFA and the respective estimated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (mg per day) per centile.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of the amount of food eaten (g per day) by adult Australians and the respective amount of n-3 LCPUFA intakes (mg per day) for five main food groups. Fish and seafood: fish, fish and chips, prawns, canned tuna, fish with pasta, paella with seafood; meat, poultry, and game: beef patty, steak, rabbit, offal, ham, lamb casserole, chicken stir-fry; egg products and dishes: eggs, omelette with cheese, spinach soufflé; cereal products and dishes: biscuits, cakes, pies (including meat pies), fried rice, pizza, vol-au-vents, quiche, gnocchi, lasagne, commercial hamburgers, croissants, pancakes; milk products and dishes: milk, yogurt, cream, cheese, ice cream, custard, milkshakes.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The actual adult female and males (19+ years) mean consumption of n-3 LCPUFA expressed as mg per gram of food for the various food groups.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison of the PUFA intakes (total PUFA, linoleic acid (LA), and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA)) (g per day) per age category.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison of the n-3 LCPUFA intakes per age category.
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