To estimate the daily intake of total lipids, saturated fatty acids, n-6 fatty acids and n-3 fatty acids in Japanese woman vegans, 33 duplicate portion samples of daily diets were collected from 11 Japanese female vegans and their fatty acid compositions were determined by gas chromatography after methylation with sodium methoxide. Intake of total lipid and each fatty acid in vegan diets was as follows (mean±SD): total lipid (% energy), 20.5 ± 7.9; saturated fatty acids (% energy), 2.6 ± 1.0; n-6 fatty acids (% energy), 4.4 ± 1.8; n-3 fatty acids (g/d), 1.2 ± 0.8. Compared with the tentative dietary goal for preventing lifestyle-related diseases in female aged 30 to 49 years in the Dietary References Intakes for Japanese 2010, n-6 fatty acid intake is appropriate; however the intake of saturated fatty acids and n-3 fatty acids in vegan diets is quite low.
