Relation of polyunsaturated fatty acid, n-3 fatty acid and n-6 fatty acid intakes and atopic dermatitis in the 9 ~ 11 year old children: KNHANES 2013 ~ 2015 / 한국영양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between atopic dermatitis and dietary fat and fatty acid (FA) intakes in 9 ~ 11 year old children. METHODS: We analyzed data from the combined 2013 ~ 2015 KNHANES (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). Subjects were divided into two groups according to atopic dermatitis (AD); with AD and without AD. Data pertaining to macronutrients and FA intakes were obtained by a single 24-h dietary recall. Food sources were identified based on the amounts of total fat and FA consumption according to each food. The associations between each FA intake and atopic dermatitis were analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and income levels were adjusted as covariates. RESULTS: Of the participants, 17.69% suffered from atopic dermatitis. Children with AD had significantly lower fat percentages of total energy and higher carbohydrate percentages of total energy than normal children. Percentages of energy and intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), n-3 FA and n-6 FA in children with AD were significantly lower than those in normal children. In the FA, linoleic acid, γ-linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid levels of children with AD were significantly lower than those of normal children. However, the P/S ratio and n-6/n-3 ratio did not differ significantly between children with AD and normal children. Soybean oil was the main contributor to PUFA, n-3 FA and n-6 FA in both groups, while perilla seed oil and mackerel were the major food sources of n-3 FA in children with atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis was significantly correlated with low-fat and high-carbohydrate diets. The adjusted odds ratios were 0.966, 0.776 and 0.963 for PUFA, n-3 FA, and n-6 FA intakes, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study provides reliable evidence regarding the relationship between fat and FA intakes and AD in Korean children 9 ~ 11 years of age.