NEWS HIGH OMEGA-6 LEVELS CAN PROTECT AGAINST PREMATURE DEATH A recent study1 published in The American When the researchers divided the study Journal of Clinical Nutrition asked the question, participants into five different groups based on ‘Could omega-6 fatty acids protect you against their blood linoleic acid level, they discovered premature death?’. The answer was ‘yes’. The that the risk of premature death was 43% lower in study, conducted by the University of Eastern the group with the highest level, when compared Finland, also found that while protecting to the group with the lowest level. A more against premature death, omega-6 fatty acids detailed analysis of the causes of death showed also help to reduce cardiovascular disease. that a similar association exists for death due to Professor Jyrki Virtanen from the University of cardiovascular diseases, as well as for death due to Eastern Finland, explains that, “Linoleic acid some other reason than cardiovascular diseases or is the most common polyunsaturated omega-6 cancer. However, no association was observed for fatty acid. We discovered that the higher the death due to cancer. Another significant finding blood linoleic acid level, the smaller the risk of of the study is that the outcome is very similar premature death.” regardless of whether the study participants The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk suffered from cardiovascular diseases, cancer or Factor Study, KIHD, determined the blood diabetes at the onset of the study. fatty acid levels of 2480 men between the ages The blood linoleic acid level is determined of 42 and 60 at the onset of the study, in 1984- by a person’s diet, and the main sources of 1989. During an average follow-up of 22 years, linoleic acid are vegetable oils, plant-based 1143 men died of disease-related causes and spreads, nuts and seeds. However, a person’s deaths due to an accident or other reasons were diet will affect his or her blood arachidonic acid excluded from the study. level only a little. 1 Virtanen, Jyrki K, et al, 2018. Serum n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of death: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 107, Issue 3, Pages 427
Fibre Figures (adult intake recommendation) LATEST NDNS SURVEY: FIBRE INTAKES (AOAC FIGURES) DRV report SACN report 1991 2015 In March this year, the latest dietary survey figures for the UK population were published (NDNS results NSP analysis 18g About 23g from Years 7-8 (combined) for the Rolling Programme method 2014/15-2015/16). For the first time, UK data on fibre AOAC analysis About 23g 30g intakes is presented as AOAC figures. method There is some scope for confusion, because there has been a ‘double change’ since the last reporting of fibre intakes in the UK diet. The first change is the method of analysis, which was previously done by the Englyst method, which capture Non-Starch Polysaccharide (NSP). The current fibre figures are those measured by American Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC), and these additionally included resistant starch and lignin, so nearly always result in a higher figure. The second change is an increase in the actual fibre intake recommendations. The previous recommendation for fibre intakes set by the 1991 Dietary Reference Values report, was for an NSP intake of 18g/day for adults: this is about 23g g/day as an AOAC figure. However in 2015 the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) produced a report on carbohydrates in the diet, and recommended a further increase to intakes of 30g/day for adults. So the headline change in figures for adult fibre intake recommendations in the UK (18g to 30g), reflect the double change in fibre analysis methods and increased target recommendations. So, how much fibre are we consuming? For adults (those aged 19 to 64 years) average intakes were 19g/day. Although men were three times more likely than women to achieve the 30g/day recommendation (13% versus 4%), women had similar or greater intakes of fibre per 1000/kcals, so fibre-density in the diets of women is similar or better. The message of more fruit and vegetables and wholegrain breads and cereals in the diet remains unchanged. For more on fibre intake see p 26. www.NHDmag.com May 2018 - Issue 134
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