Positive Health Online

Abstract

AL-GHANNAMI and COLLEAGUES, 1. Lipidomics and Nutrition Research Centre, Faculty of Life Sciences and Computing, London Metropolitan University, London, UK; Ministry of Health, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman; 2. Lipidomics and Nutrition Research Centre, Faculty of Life Sciences and Computing, London Metropolitan University, London, UK; 3. Ministry of Health, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman; 4. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman; 5. Lipidomics and Nutrition Research Centre, Faculty of Life Sciences and Computing, London Metropolitan University, London, UK. k.ghebremeskel@londonmet.ac.uk investigated the fat soluble nutrient status of children in Oman before and after intervention with fish diet or fish oil.

Background

Over the past two decades, the Omani diet has changed considerably to resemble a high calorie and a low nutrient density Western diet. We investigated the fat soluble nutrient status of children before and after intervention with fish diet or fish oil.

Methodology

Children ages 9 and 10 y (n = 314) were recruited from three randomly selected schools. The schools were assigned to a fish, fish oil, or control group and the children were given a lightly grilled oily fish, a re-esterified triacylglycerol fish oil capsule, or no fish for 12 wk.

Results

Plasma vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin E concentrations, and vitamin E/total lipid ratio at baseline were 2.7 ± 0.85 μmol/L, 0.68 ± 0.48 μmol/L, 21.1 ± 4.8 μmol/L, and 5.0 ± 0.81 μmol/mmol, respectively, and none of the children were deficient. They were severely deficient (<27.5 nmol/L; 10.5% boys and 28.5% girls), deficient (27.5-44.9 nmol/L; 47.6% boys and 49.4% girls) or insufficient (50-74.9 nmol/L; 34.6% boys and 21.5% girls) in vitamin D; only 7.3% boys and 0.6% girls had optimal status (≥75 nmol/L). Parathyroid hormone (5.0 ± 1.7 versus 5.8 ± 2.1 pmol/L; P < 0.0001) and alkaline phosphatase (225.2 ± 66.6 versus 247.8 ± 73.7 U/L; P < 0.01) levels were lower in boys. Postintervention, the fish oil (54.1 ± 17.5 nmol/L; P < 0.001) and fish (49.2 ± 17.4 nmol/L; P < 0.05) groups had elevated levels of vitamin D compared with the controls (42.3 ± 17.5 nmol/L).

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in Omani school children, but it can be mitigated with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in skeletal and extra-skeletal systems. Hence, there is a need for a child-focused program of food fortification and outdoor activities to alleviate the problem.

References

Al-Ghannami SS1, Sedlak E2, Hussein IS2, Min Y2, Al-Shmmkhi SM3, Al-Oufi HS4, Al-Mazroui A4, Ghebremeskel K5. Lipid-soluble nutrient status of healthy Omani school children before and after intervention with oily fish meal or re-esterified triacylglycerol fish oil. Nutrition. 32(1):73-8. Jan 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2015.07.014. Epub Aug 15 2015.