The choice of animal feeding system influences fatty acid intakes of the average French diet

Abstract

Fatty acids intake of French adult population does not comply with the French Population Reference Intakes (PRI). The aim the study is to quantify the impact of a modification of animal feeding system on the fatty acids intake of French population. A 15-day diet representative of average consumption for the French adult male population was developed with animal products derived either from conventional production system (STD) either from a specific production system (Bleu-Blanc-Cœur® [BBC]) that acts on the fatty acids profile of animal products. The impact of a such change in feeding system on fatty acids content has been quantified. BBC diet contributes to reducing the gap between the fatty acid content of a STD diet and the PRI with highest impact on C12:0–14:0–16:0 fatty acids (−4.6 g/d, i.e. 63.3%), C18:3n-3 (+0.8 g/d, i.e. 48.2%), C20:5n-3 (+35 mg/d, i.e. 42.7%), C22:6n-3 (+49 mg/d, i.e. 35%) and the C18:2n-6/C18:3n-3 ratio (−4.9 points, i.e. 43.5%). The research also shows that animal products complement one another. Consuming a variety of animal source foods derived from a specific feeding practices could help reduce the gap between actual consumption and recommended dietary intake of fatty acids.

Keywords

• fatty acids
• animal products
• production system
• Population Reference Intakes (PRIs)
• average French diet