Relating fatty acid composition in human fingertip blood to age, gender, nationality and n-3 supplementation in the Scandinavian population LINDA C. SAGA 1 , KRISTIAN HOVDE LILAND 1 , RUNE BANG LEISTAD 2 , ARNE REIMERS 2 , & ELLING-OLAV RUKKE 1 1 Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway, and 2 St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway Abstract This study investigated data obtained from whole blood fatty acid (FA) composition of 3476 Norwegian and Swedish individuals, which provided background information including age, gender, nationality and self-motivated n-3 supplement consumption. The aim of this paper was to statistically relate this background information on the subjects to their whole blood FA profile, focusing mainly on the n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). Results showed that age had significant effects on the content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in blood lipids for the Norwegian individuals, while n-3 PUFA supplementation had a positive effect on EPA and DHA content in whole blood for the investigated population. Gender differences were also found for individual FA. A correlation also exists with previous studies on the FA profiling of blood lipids, further validating the test procedure. Keywords: diet, fatty acid composition, home test kit, whole blood Introduction In the human body, fatty acids (FA) are incorporated in blood lipids, depot fats and structural lipids in membranes (Rise´ et al. 2008). Hence the distribution of FA can be measured in various blood fractions and tissues (Baylin and Campos 2006). Dietary intake, lifestyle, intestinal absorption and metabolism are various factors that affect the FA profile of circulating lipids in humans (Rise´ et al. 2007; Panagiotakos et al. 2009). In the Scandinavian countries, citizens have access to a home test kit for voluntary testing of blood for lipid profiling. The test involves absorption of whole blood from the prick of a finger on a special paper. In addition, a requisition form seeking information regarding gender, age, nationality and n-3 polyunsa- turated FA (PUFA) supplementation is provided. The blood samples are analyzed by gas chromatography of FA methyl esters (FAME) by an accredited laboratory in Norway, after arrival by postal delivery. In this study, a dataset was obtained with results from whole blood FA analysis and background information of 3476 individuals in Norway and Sweden. The aim of this study was to statistically relate the background information on the subjects to their whole blood FA profile, focusing especially on the n-3 PUFA. Materials and methods Subjects The blood test was employed by individuals who were interested in a screening of their blood FA composition through the use of a home test kit (developed by University of Milano (Italy), St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim (Norway) and is distributed by Itogha AS, Norway, as Oil4Lifee Test). Individuals acquired the test kit through therapists, health clinics, sport stores, a web shop and other sales channels in the two Nordic ISSN 0963-7486 print/ISSN 1465-3478 online q 2012 Informa UK, Ltd. DOI: 10.3109/09637486.2012.681631 Correspondence: Linda C. Saga, Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Aas, Norway. Tel: þ 47 64 96 61 54. Fax: þ 47 64 96 59 01. E-mail: linda.saga@umb.no International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, November 2012; 63(7): 790–795 Int J Food Sci Nutr Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University for Miljoe & Biovitenskap on 10/30/12 For personal use only.