Abstract
Serum fatty acids analyses were performed on subjects in their thirties and fifties living in urban Japan. It is known that the Japanese traditionally consume relatively large amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fresh fish, and this may, in part, contribute to their low incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD).
This study was performed to examine the differences of the composition of serum fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6 ratio) between young and senior people. We surveyed plasma fatty acids in 176 people in their thirties and fifties living in Tokyo. The level of serum cholesterol was 198mg/dl in the first group and 222mg/dl in the second group. The percentage of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the total serum fatty acids was 7.01±1.6% in the younger group and 9.67±1.8% in the elder group (p<0.01). The omega-3/omega-6 ratio was 0.19±0.05 and 0.29±0.09 (p<0.01), respectively.
These findings suggest a significant difference in eating habits between young and elderly generations in Japan. A trend in the lower of omega-3 fatty acids from fish meat in the younger generation could be an important factor in the possible increase in occurrence of coronary heart disease in Japan's future.
