Balanced Intake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for Health Benefits

Abstract

The fat intake pattern of Japanese that was estimated from the annual report of national nutrition survey was introduced as a comprehensive model for a healthy way of eating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The n-6/n-3 ratio of 4 and the polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S) ratio of 1 in the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of fat for Japanese that was announced in 2000 essentially reflects a relatively high value of these ratios in our dietary habit. This review stresses the advantage of Japanese way of eating, in which moderate eating is indispensable, for health benefits.