There is rising concern that some UK ethnic minority groups (EMG) are experiencing poor health outcomes, which may be linked to diet( Reference Leung and Stanner 1 ). Furthermore, there is currently a lack of data relating to EMG consumption of long chain omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC3PUFA) which offer a range of health benefits( Reference Bates, Lennox and Prentice 2 – 4 ). UK recommendations state that people should consume one portion of oily fish per week, to give a minimum of 0·2 percent of total energy or 0·45 g/day LC3PUFA( 5 ) or 2·2 g/d LC3PUFA when pregnant( 4 ). An official nutritional survey that encompasses intakes of specific types of LC3PUFA in EMG's has not yet been undertaken. However, general national surveys have been published in the form of the Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey (LINDS), which encompasses some information relating to EMG's.
In this preliminary study, a search was made using defined criteria to identify published data relating to the dietary LC3PUFA intakes of EMG between 2004 and 2014. Studies included data from UK EMG such as black African and Caribbean, South Asian, Indian Asian Sikhs and other mixed race groups. Published data on the LC3PUFA intakes of EMG in the form of the NDNS( Reference Bates, Lennox and Prentice 2 ), LINDS( Reference Nelson, Erens and Bates 3 ) and three further peer review journal articles were identified( Reference Donin, Nightingale and Owen 6 – Reference Lovegrove, Lovegrove and Lesauvage 8 ).
* values are geometric means for log-transformed variables
There is a limited amount of data relating to the dietary LC3PUFA intakes of EMG living in the UK and previous surveys have used relatively small numbers of participants. Results from existing studies are varied; however most lack the finer detail regarding the types of LC3PUFA that are being consumed. Further research is warranted in the form of larger dietary surveys to ascertain the individual LC3PUFA and oily fish intakes of UK EMG.