ADIPOSE-TISSUE FATTY-ACIDS AS BIOMARKERS OF DIETARY EXPOSURE IN DANISH MEN AND WOMEN

Adipose tissue fatty acids, it has been proposed, reflect dietary inta ke. Using data from a validation study preceding a prospective study o n diet, cancer, and health in Denmark, we were able to compare fatty a cid profiles in adipose tissue biopsies from 86 individuals (23 men an d 63 women) aged 40-64 y and dietary intake of fatty acids (as percent age of total fat) assessed by two 7-d weighed-diet records or by a sem iquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Correlation coefficients ( Pearson r) between fatty acid concentrations in adipose tissue biopsie s (as percentage of total peak area) and dietary intake of fatty acid (percentage of total fat), determined from the diet records for men an d women, respectively, were as follows: polyunsaturated fatty acids r = 0.74 and r = 0.46; n-3 fatty acids of marine origin: eicosapentaenoi c acid r = 0. 15 and r = 0.61, and docosahexaenoic acid r = 0.47 and r = 0.57. Correlation coefficients obtained by using the food frequency questionnaire were slightly lower for most fatty acids.