Table 2.
Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Composition
| Fatty acida | Placebo (n = 21) |
Fish oil (n = 21) |
p-Valueb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre | Post | Pre | Post | ||
| Palmitic acid (16:0) | 17.4 ± 0.9 | 17.0 ± 1.4 | 17.8 ± 2.1 | 17.6 ± 1.7 | 0.73 |
| Stearic acid (18:0) | 17.5 ± 1.5 | 17.2 ± 1.2 | 17.4 ± 1.1 | 16.9 ± 1.1 | 0.78 |
| Oleic acid (18:1n-9) | 12.2 ± 1.1 | 11.9 ± 1.8 | 12.0 ± 1.2 | 11.4 ± 1.0 | 0.56 |
| Vaccenic acid (18:1n-7) | 1.4 ± 0.5 | 1.3 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.6 | 1.2 ± 0.3 | 0.86 |
| Linoleic acid (18:2n-6) | 12.2 ± 1.3 | 12.4 ± 1.9 | 12.7 ± 1.6 | 11.5 ± 1.9 | 0.07 |
| Homo-γ-linolenic (20:3n-6) | 2.0 ± 0.4 | 2.0 ± 0.5 | 2.0 ± 0.4 | 1.8 ± 0.5 | 0.21 |
| AA (20:4n-6) | 18.0 ± 1.2 | 18.3 ± 2.0 | 17.2 ± 1.7 | 15.7 ± 1.7** | 0.02 |
| Docosatetraenoic acid (22:4n-6) | 4.4 ± 0.6 | 4.7 ± 0.6 | 4.8 ± 1.4 | 3.5 ± 0.7** | 0.0004 |
| EPA (20:5n-3) | 0.2 ± 0.2 | 0.3 ± 0.1 | 0.2 ± 0.2 | 1.3 ± 0.7*** | 0.0001 |
| DPA (22:5n-3) | 2.1 ± 0.4 | 2.1 ± 0.5 | 2.1 ± 0.4 | 3.5 ± 1.3*** | <0.0001 |
| DHA (22:6n-3) | 3.1 ± 0.6 | 2.8 ± 0.4 | 3.1 ± 0.6 | 5.1 ± 1.2*** | <0.0001 |
| EPA + DHA (Omega-3 Index) | 3.3 ± 0.7 | 3.0 ± 0.4 | 3.3 ± 0.6 | 6.3 ± 1.7*** | <0.0001 |
| AA:DHA | 6.0 ± 1.0 | 6.6 ± 0.9 | 5.8 ± 1.1 | 3.2 ± 0.9*** | <0.0001 |
| AA:EPA + DHA | 5.6 ± 0.9 | 6.2 ± 0.9 | 5.4 ± 1.0 | 2.7 ± 0.1*** | <0.0001 |
a
Values are group mean composition (mg fatty acid/100 mg fatty acids) ± SD.
b
Group × time interaction (two-way ANOVA).
**
p ≤ 0.01, ***p ≤ 0.0001, pre vs. post within group t-test.
SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; AA, arachidonic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; DPA, docosapentaenoic acid; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid.