Table 3.
Concentrations of n-3 fatty acids in various tissues by following a vegan or non-vegan diet (as cited in text).
| Author, Year | Plasma | Serum | Erythrocyte and Whole Blood | Platelets | Breastmilk | Adipose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosell et al., 2005 [10] | Plasma ALA was not different between male VGNs and meat-eaters, whereas EPA and DHA were significantly lower in male VGNs than in meat-eaters. | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mann et al., 2006 [45] | ALA plasma was higher in male VGNs than the high meat group, whereas EPA and DHA were significantly lower in VGNs. | - | - | - | - | - |
| Agren et al., 1995 [42] | Lower levels of DHA and EPA in VGNs compared to omnivores. | Lower levels of DHA and EPA in VGN serum compared to omnivores. | DHA and EPA were lower in VGN erythrocytes compared to omnivores. | Low levels of DHA and EPA in VGN platelets compared to omnivores. | - | - |
| Sanders et al., 1978 [46] | EPA and DHA were significantly lower compared to omnivores. | - | Low EPA and DHA in VGNs and VGN breast-fed infant erythrocytes compared to omnivores. | - | Higher ALA levels in VGNs than omnivores, and lower DHA and EPA (not significant). | ALA was higher in adipose tissue of VGNs than omnivores (not significant). |
| Li et al., 1999 [39] | EPA and DHA were lower in male VGNs, and the n-3:n-6 ratio was lower, and AA:EPA was higher compared to male high meat eaters. | - | - | No differences in ALA composition between VGNs and omnivores; however, there was a significant decrease in EPA and DHA levels in VGNs. | - | - |
| Pinto et al., 2017 [9] | ALA was higher in VGNs than the high meat group; however, EPA and DHA were significantly lower in VGNs. | - | The omega-3 index was significantly lower in VGNs (2.71%) than in omnivores (5.42%). | - | - | - |
| Welch et al., 2010 [44] | ALA levels were not different for males or females as compared to the meat-eaters, but VGN DHA was higher in women than meat-eaters. In VGN males, plasma DHA was lower than omnivores. | - | - | - | - | - |
| Elorinne et al., 2016 [11] | - | No differences between VGNs and non-VGN serum ALA concentrations, however EPA and DHA serum concentrations were significantly lower in VGNs than omnivores. | - | - | - | - |
| Sanders et al., 1992 [48] | - | - | The proportion of DHA in erythrocytes of breast-fed VGN infants was 1.9% as compared to infants fed a milk formula (3.7%). | - | Levels of ALA were comparable to vegetarians, but concentrations of DHA were less than 50% for both vegetarians and omnivores. | - |
| Kornsteiner et al., 2008 [40] | - | - | DHA and EPA in adult erythrocytes were decreased in Austrian VGNs. | - | - | - |
| Sarter et al., 2015 [16] | - | - | Higher ALA and EPA levels in VGNs. No differences in DHA levels between VGNs and US soldiers in whole blood FA. | - | - | - |
| Sanders et al., 1992 [22] | - | - | - | No difference in ALA composition between VGNs and non-VGNs; however, there was a sig. decrease in EPA and DHA levels in VGNs. | - | - |
| Perrin et al., 2018 [12] | - | - | - | ALA was significantly higher in VGNs than in non-VGNs; DHA and EPA were not sig. different. The LA:ALA ratio was lower in VGNs than non-VGNs. | - | - |
| Miles et al., 2019 [41] | - | - | - | - | - | ALA was higher and EPA, DPA, and DHA were sig. lower in VGNs than non-VGNs. Total n-3 was highest in VGNs due to high ALA levels. |