The study was performed to investigate the effects of a daily consumption of linseed oil on fatty acid distribution in plasma and red blood cell lipids and blood lipids in vegetarians.

Recent studies suggest that the daily intake of n-3 LC-PUFA (EPA and DHA) can modulate cardiovascular risk factors and prevent lifestyle diseases.

The major dietary source of EPA and DHA is seafood (seaweeds and fatty cold water fishes), but they can also be found in lean red meat, in organ meats such as liver and brain. Vegetarians who do not eat meat or fish, have very low or negligible intakes of EPA (< 5 mg EPA/d) and DHA.

The purpose of the present study is to explore the tissue distribution and inter-conversion of ALA to n-3 LC-PUFA as consequence of linseed oil supplementation in vegetarians.

Eight vegetarians (3 m; 5 f) who do not eat meat, fish or seaweeds such as algae foods since least two years ago and two subjects (1 m; 1w) who consume the normal western style diet living in Jena (Germany) entered the study. The participants consumed 10 mL linseed oil per day for 10 weeks. The resulting daily dose of ALA was approx. 5.7 g/d.

Inclusion Criteria:

• for the vegetarian sub-group : vegetarian diet pattern

Exclusion Criteria:

• high performance sport, daily alcohol intake and the in-take of dietary supplements (e.g., fish oil capsules)
• for the vegetarian sub-group, the consumption of fish and algae products (e.g. seaweeds, sushi)