The skinny on tuna fat: health implications

• Published in: Public health nutrition Vol. 14; no. 11; pp. 2049 - 2054
• Main Authors: Maqbool, Asim, Strandvik, Birgitta, Stallings, Virginia A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.11.2011; CABI Pub. on behalf of the Nutrition Society
• Subjects: administration & dosage; Adult; adults; alpha-linolenic acid; alpha-Linolenic Acid - administration & dosage; alpha-Linolenic Acid - analysis; analysis; Animals; arachidonic acid; Arachidonic Acid - administration & dosage; Arachidonic Acid - analysis; Carrots; Cellulose; Child; child nutrition; children; cystic fibrosis; Descriptive labeling; Diet; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - analysis; disease prevention; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Docosahexaenoic Acids - analysis; Eggs; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - administration & dosage; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - analysis; energy; food packaging; Food, Preserved; grocery stores; Humans; linoleic acid; Linoleic Acid - administration & dosage; Linoleic Acid - analysis; Marine; New England; Nutrition; Nutrition and Health; Oils & fats; omega-3 fatty acids; patients; Potassium; Salads; Salt; Seafood; Thunnus; Tuna; United States; New England; United States > US; North America; United States; n-3 fatty acids; DHA; Chronic disease; EPA
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980010003757

Objective Dietary n-3 (omega-3) and n-6 (omega-6) PUFA have significant implications in health and disease prevention. Marine life is rich in long-chain n-3 PUFA. Children and adults in North America are reluctant fish eaters; canned tuna is a common fish in children's diets. Although a multitude of tuna products are available, their respective PUFA contents have not been well described. The aim of the present study was to compare the fatty acid (FA) profiles of different commercially available US tuna products. Design Fat and FA composition of eight products randomly selected from two US suppliers were analysed with capillary GC after lipid extraction. Setting Large north-eastern US grocery store chain. Subjects Canned tuna. Results Energy from fat varied from 3 to 33 % and the essential FA (EFA) linoleic acid (18 : 2n-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (18 : 3n-3) varied tenfold. DHA varied between 90 and 770 mg/serving. The n-6:n-3 ratio was 3:1-4:1 in oil-packaged products, 2:1-7:1 in packaged tuna salads and 1:3-1:7 in water-packaged products. A similar magnitude of differences was seen in the ratio between arachidonic acid (20 : 4n-6) and DHA. Conclusions Light tuna canned in water may be a better choice of providing n-3 PUFA to individuals in a healthy population, whereas oil-packaged products may be preferable for those individuals with a need for increased EFA, such as for patients with cystic fibrosis. Awareness regarding PUFA content may aid in consumer product choices and health-care provider advice.