N-3 fatty acids in human fat tissue aspirates are stable for up to 6y

Objectives: The content of n-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in fat tissue is a valid indicator of their long-term consumption. We studied the stability of n-3 fatty acids in human subcutaneous fat microbiopsies after 6 and 11 y of storage. Design: Microbiopsies were taken from a lump of human adipose tissue and stored at + 20 and -80degreesC. Setting: Laboratory study. Results: After 5.6 y at -80degreesC the proportion of six out of seven highly polyunsaturated fatty acids varied between 91 and 102% (mean 97%) of their baseline values. Storage at + 20degreesC yielded recoveries between 82 and 105%. After 11 y at -80degreesC the proportions in the original lump of tissue ranged from 88 to 101% (mean 94%). Conclusion: n-3 fatty acids in stored fat tissue aspirates are stable for 6 - 11 y, and are suitable markers of baseline diet in long-term epidemiological studies. Sponsorship: Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences.