5. Conclusions
Daily supplementation for 16 weeks with 6g of fish oil, with or without a multivitamin, led to higher EPA incorporation into erythrocytes. A dose response effect was demonstrated between 3 g and 6 g of fish oil on n-3 fatty acids. Treatment had no effect on DHA composition. At study endpoint, the LC n-3 PUFA index was only higher for those receiving a multivitamin in addition to 6 g of daily fish oil, suggesting that some vitamins/minerals aid the incorporation of LC n-3 PUFA into red blood cells. There was considerable individual variability in the response to supplementation with females, generally found to incorporate LC n-3 PUFA into red blood cells more effectively than males. Relative to placebo, all treatments increased EPA in females whereas only the 6 g fish oil multivitamin combination treatment increased EPA in males. These results suggest that some males may incorporate relatively low amounts of LC n-3 PUFA into red blood cells despite adhering to LC n-3 PUFA intake guidelines. This is an important area for future research because dietary recommendations around LC n-3 PUFA intake may need to be gender specific.