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01-04-2020 | Original Contribution

Is high oily fish intake achievable and how does it affect nutrient status in 8–9-year-old children?: the FiSK Junior trial

Authors: Stine Vuholm, Marie N. Teisen, Nanna Glent Buch, Ken D. Stark, Jette Jakobsen, Christian Mølgaard, Lotte Lauritzen, Camilla T. Damsgaard

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 3/2020

Abstract

Purpose

Most children do not meet dietary guidelines for fish intake. Fish is the main source of EPA (20:5n-3), DHA (22:6n-3) and vitamin D, but may replace better iron sources such as meat. We investigated if intake of 300 g/week oily fish was achievable in children and how it affected their nutrient status. Additionally, we validated a fish food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) by correlations against EPA + DHA in red blood cells (RBC).

Methods

In a randomised 12-week trial, 199 children (8–9 years) received oily fish or poultry (control) to be eaten five times/week. We measured dietary intake and analysed fasting RBC EPA + DHA, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), blood haemoglobin and plasma ferritin.

Results

197 (99%) children completed the study. The median (25th–75th percentile) intake was 375 (325–426) and 400 (359–452) g/week oily fish and poultry, respectively. The fish group increased their intake of EPA + DHA by 749 (593–891) mg/day and vitamin D by 3.1 (1.6–3.8) µg/day. Endpoint RBC EPA + DHA was 2.3 (95% CI 1.9; 2.6) fatty acid %-point higher than the poultry group (P < 0.001). The fish group avoided the expected 25(OH)D winter decline (P < 0.001) and had 23%-point less vitamin D insufficiency (winter subgroup, n = 82). Haemoglobin and ferritin decreased slightly in both groups (P < 0.05), but the number of children with low values did not change (P > 0.14). FFQ estimates moderately reflected habitual intake (r = 0.28–0.35) and sufficiently captured intervention-introduced changes in intake (r > 0.65).

Conclusion

Oily fish intake of 300 g/week was achievable and improved children’s EPA + DHA and 25(OH)D status, without markedly compromising iron status. These results justify public health initiatives focusing on children’s fish intake.

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Title: Is high oily fish intake achievable and how does it affect nutrient status in 8–9-year-old children?: the FiSK Junior trial
Authors: Stine Vuholm
Marie N. Teisen
Nanna Glent Buch
Ken D. Stark
Jette Jakobsen
Christian Mølgaard
Lotte Lauritzen
Camilla T. Damsgaard
Publication date: 01-04-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01981-y

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