Dietary intakes and food sources of fatty acids for Belgian women, focused on n‐6 and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

The intake of fat, saturated and monounsaturated FA (SFA and MUFA), and omega‐6 and omega‐3 PUFA has been estimated in 641 Belgian women (age 18‐39 y). Their food intake was recorded using a 2‐d food diary. The PUFA included were linoleic (LA), alpha‐linolenic (LNA), arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaeonoic (EPA), docosapentaenoic (DPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. The mean total fat intake corresponded to 34.3% of total energy intake (E). The mean intake of the FA groups corresponded to 13.7%, 13.1%, and 6.0% of E, for SFA, MUFA, and PUFA, respectively. The mean intake of LA was 5.3% of E and of LNA was 0.6% of E, with a mean LA/LNA ratio of 8.7. The mean intake of AA was 0.03% of E. The mean intake of EPA, DPA, and DHA was 0.4%, 0.01%, and 0.06% of E, respectively. According to the Belgian recommendations, the total fat and SFA intake was too high for about three‐quarters of the population. The mean LA and overall n‐6 PUFA intake corresponded with the recommendation, with part of the population exceeding the upper level. Conversely, the population showed a large deficit for LNA and n‐3 PUFA. The major food source for LA and LNA was fats and oils, followed by cereal products. The main sources of long‐chain PUFA were fish and seafood, and meat, poultry, and eggs. From a public health perspective, it seems desirable to tackle the problem of low n‐3 PUFA intake.