8 Intake assessment
8.2 Estimated intake assuming consumption of n-3 fortified foods and n-3 food supplement-scenario 263
The following products fortified with marine oils (or EPA and DHA) and plant oils are included in the intake estimations in scenario 2: Fruit juices/drinks (Smartfish), fruit drinks (Mills), TINE fruit yoghurts, Litago yoghurts for children, Brelett light margarine (Fjordland), liverpate (light) (Stabburet and Gilde), bread (>50% wholemeal) (Goman Kystbrød, Bakers Naturlig sunt and Kompis) and spreadable caviar (Mills and Stabburet). Data was collected in May 2009.
Three Smartfish drinks were available in Norway at the time of data collection. The average concentration levels of EPA, DPA and DHA in the three available drinks are used in the intake estimation. In the calculations, all juices and apple nectar are replaced with fortified Smartfish drinks. The concentration levels of EPA, DPA, DHA and total n-3 are the same in TINE n-3 yoghurts and Litago yoghurts. When estimating the intake including the fortified foods, all Tine fruit yoghurts except musli yoghurts were replaced by the fortified versions.
All light margarines were replaced by Brelett omega. The average concentration levels of n-3 fatty acids from the two available fortified fat-reduced liver pates, the two available fortified spreadable caviars and the three available fortified breads replaced the content of these substances in all fat-reduced liver pates, spreadable caviars and all breads with >50%
wholemeal, respectively.
The fat-reduced Vita Hjertego’ hot dog wiener and the fat-reduced Vita Hjertego’ hot dog grill are added with plant oil and have an enhanced content of ALA compared to the fat-reduced alternatives in the Norwegian Food Composition Table. These are also included in scenario 2, replacing all fat-reduced hot dogs.
The estimated intake of n-3 fatty acids including fortified foods and weighed average values of fatty acids from a calculated food supplement in scenario 2 is shown in Table 8.2 and described below.
The average estimated intake of total n-3 fatty acids for 1-year olds who take supplements is 1.7 g/day (1.2 E%) and 3.0 g/day (2.0 E%) at the 95th percentile (supplements included). The intake at the 5th percentile is 0.2 E% if supplements are not included. The average intake of EPA+DPA+DHA including supplements is 1.0 g/day. The lowest intake of EPA+DPA+DHA in this age group is approximately zero (5th percentile without supplements) and the highest intake is 1.6 g/day (95th percentile with supplements).
The average estimated intake of total n-3 fatty acids among children and adolescent 2, 4, 9 and 13 years who take supplements is 2.3-2.6 g/day (1.2-1.5 E%), and the 2 year olds have the highest E%. The estimated intake of total n-3 fatty acids at the 95th percentile (supplements included) is 3.6-4.7 g/day (1.8-2.2 E%) for the same age groups. The estimated intake at the 5th percentile in these age groups is below recommended level only in 13 year olds who do not take supplements (0.4 E%). The average intake of EPA+DPA+DHA without supplements is 0.5-0.6 g/day in the age groups 2, 4, 9 and 13 years and with supplements 1.1-1.2 g/day).
64
The lowest intake of EPA+DPA+DHA in these age groups is approximately 0-0.1g/day and below EFSA’s recommendation at 0.25 g/day EPA and DHA (5th percentile without
supplements) and the highest intake is 2.1 g/day (95th percentile 2-years old and 13-year olds with supplements).
Table 8.2: Estimated intake of n-3 fatty acids including fortified products and food supplement with weighed average values of n-3 fatty acids – scenario 2 (all numbers are rounded off).
ALA
1Only the non-breastfed infants are included.
The estimated intake of total n-3 fatty acids for adults who take supplements is 3.4 g/day (1.4 E%) at average and 6.3 g/day (2.0 E%) at the 95th percentile (supplements included). The estimated intake at the 5th percentile is 0.6 E% if supplements are not included.
65
The average intake of EPA+DPA+DHA without supplements in adults is 0.9 g/day. The lowest intake in adults is 0.2 g/day and below EFSA’s recommendation at 0.25 g/day EPA and DHA (5th percentile without supplements) and the highest intake is 2.7 g/day (95th percentile with supplements).
8.3 Comparison of the two different scenarios
The consumers have three identified available sources of n-3 fatty acids; from regular foods, from fortified foods and from supplements. The lowest consumption of EPA+DPA+DHA is recorded among people with a low intake from regular foods and no fortified products or supplements, whereas the highest intake of EPA+DPA+DHA is recorded among people with a high estimated intake from regular and fortified foods who also takes supplements. To visualize these two variations in intake, they are compared in Figure 8.1 where the 5th percentile intake of EPA, DPA and DHA in the groups without supplementation and fortification is approximately zero. In contrast the 95th percentile from the group with supplementation and fortification is close to 2 g/day (1.6-2.7 g/day). In addition, the average intake without supplementation and fortification, and the average intake with supplementation but not fortification are also included. No upper safe limit exists for total daily n-3 intake (ALA+EPA+DPA+DHA).
Low, average and high intakes of EPA, DPA and DHA in different age groups
Recommended intake of EPA and DHA from EFSA for adults and children ≥ 2 years (0.25 g/day)
Figure 8.1: Low, average and high intake of EPA, DPA, DHA and total n-3 fatty acids in different age groups (g/day).
In Figure 8.2 the low, average and high intake of total n-3 fatty acids are compared and related to the recommended intake of 0.5E% for children and adults, indicated by the
horizontal line. Most of the population has an intake that meets the recommandations for total n-3 fatty acids. However, the individual n-3 fatty acids have different physiological effects.
The major part of the documentation on positive health effects is obtained from studies with EPA and DHA. Furthermore, the conversion of ALA to DHA is in the range of 0.5% (Plourde
& Cunnane, 2007). During the last decade there are increasing numbers of recommedations for EPA and DHA for health promotion and reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases (Table 5.1 and 5.2).
66
Figures 8.1 shows low, average and high intake of EPA, DPA and DHA as g/day, and figure 8.2 shows low, average and high intake of total n-3 fatty acid i.e. ALA, EPA, DPA and DHA as E%.
Low, average and high intakes of total n-3 fatty acids as E% in different age groups
0.0
Recommended intake as E% for adults and children ≥ 2 years (NNR, 2004)
Figure 8.2: Low, average and high intake of ALA, EPA, DPA, DHA and total n-3 fatty acids in different age groups (E%).