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Wang, Yiqun (2010) Comparative fatty acid status of population groups from inland, lake/river and coastal regions of China: implications for pregnancy and non-communicable diseases. Doctoral thesis, London Metropolitan University.
In the 1980s professors Junshi Chen, Dr Colin Campbell, Sir Richard Peto, Dr Michael Crawford and others carried out a large-scale ecological survey in the 65 counties of rural China. Then, the Chinese had a low intake of dietary fats and a low mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the Western countries. In view of the strong evidence base on the importance of n-3 LCPUFAs for brain and heart health, we have re-examined the association between n-3 LCPUFA in red blood cells (RBC) and mortality rates for over 3 dozen chronic diseases. There was a negative correlation with DHA rather than EPA status to most chronic diseases. There was also a similar correlation with Selenium (Se) and glutathione peroxidise: the Se and DHA being consistent with use of fish and sea foods.
As a follow-up study, we have investigated n-3 LCPUFA status in pregnant women and their newborns in three regions with diverse fish intakes. The fish intakes among three regions reflected the contrasts seen in the 65 counties with very clear regional variability, which had not recently changed as much as in urban China. One important finding is the fresh water fish and aquatic plants are as proficient as the marine system to supply n-3 LCPUFA, mainly DHA as seen from the maternal n-3 LCPUFAs bloods. The main FAs in plasma CPG were also found to be good biomarkers for assessing diet.
Neonatal status of n-3 LCPUFAs was related to their maternal status. The FAs data on the corresponding neonates from cord blood interestingly showed that the placenta attempted to smooth out the differences seen in the mothers. Our finding is the concentration ratios of fetal/maternal DHA were significantly higher in the four out of five analysed blood fractions of inlanders than those in other two regions. Also the inlanders had significantly higher ratios of fetal/maternal ALA than those in other two regions in plasma CPG. This data suggests that the human placenta has not only a vital function to concentrate DHA but also deliver more ALA from mother to fetus possibly to correct for a lower DHA level in maternal status.
n-3 LCPUFAs (DHA, n-3 DPA and EPA) in the breast milk were significantly correlated with those in their maternal blood fractions, but not between the neonatal blood fractions and maternal dietary intakes, although the DHA in cord blood fractions were significantly correlated to those in maternal status. It seems that the DHA in breast milk was not only related to maternal dietary intakes recently but also related to the maternal long-term accumulation of DHA.
In conclusion: in the 65 county study the inland people had the least red cell DHA and had the highest incidence of heart disease and many other chronic disorders which are consistent with the same epidemiology on Western countries where the American Heart Association and FAO-WHO (2010) recommend the consumption of oily fish to protect against heart disease. This finding has been extended in this study to pregnant women with the surprising observation that the fresh water fish appeared to maintain the DHA status just as effectively as seen in the people consuming salt water fish. This finding has important implications for the development of fresh water aquaculture. With the limit being reached in the wild oceanic fish catch there will be a limit to the development of marine aquaculture which depends on the by-products of the wild catch. Hence fresh water aquaculture, of which China is a world leader, could play an important role in providing DHA rich foods in the future.
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