ERYTHROCYTE LEVELS COMPARED WITH REPORTED DIETARY-INTAKE OF MARINE N-3 FATTY-ACIDS IN PREGNANT-WOMEN

It is well established that marine n-3 fatty acids measured in erythro cyte phospholipids of non-pregnant subjects reflect the subjects' inta ke of these fatty acids. In 135 pregnant women in the 30th week of ges tation we compared intake of marine n-3 fatty acids and energy, estima ted by a combined dietary self-administered questionnaire and intervie w, with fatty acids measured in erythrocyte phospholipids. Daily intak e (g/d) and nutrient density of marine n-3 fatty acids (mg/MJ) correla ted with the n-3 fatty acid: arachidonic acid ratio (FA-ratio) with co rrelation coefficients of 0.48 and 0.54 respectively. In a linear regr ession model with three frequency questions about marine sandwiches, m arine cooked meals and fish oil as explanatory variables, and the FA-r atio as dependent variable, the multiple correlation coefficient was 0 .46. Conclusions from the study were (1) levels of erythrocyte fatty a cids in pregnant women may be employed as a qualitative method to rank subjects according to intake of marine n-3 fatty acids; (2) with resp ect to the power to explain FA-ratio variability, three simple marine food frequency questions were comparable with intake of marine n-3 fat ty acids assessed by an elaborate semiquantitative dietary method invo lving an interview.