ISOMERIC TRANS-FATTY-ACIDS IN THE UNITED-STATES DIET

Since actual consumption data for trails fatly acid (FA) intakes for the U.S. population do not exist, estimates o(traits fatty acids (FAs) available in the U.S. food supply have been calculated from U.S. Department of Agriculture — Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS) fats and oils production figures and food disappearance data for fats and oils. Based on weighted averages for the trims levels in each fats and oils category, these estimates of traits FAs available in the U.S. food supply range from 12.5 to 15.2 g/person/day (average 13.3 ± l.l g/person/day). Estimates of trans FA consumption have been calculated: these estimates predict a wide range from 1.6 to 38.7 g/person/day. These calculations are based on published estimates of trails FAs available in the total fat of 5-15%. and the total fat intake (range 31-258 g/person/day) of a representative sample of adults (ages 20-59) as determined by the Lipid Research Clinics (LRC). Using an equation based on a relationship between nans FAs in adipose tissue and dietary' fat. an intake range of 0.7-28.7 g/person/day trans FAs for the same LRC fat consumption data can be predicted. Adipose tissue isomer profiles that indicate 90-95% of the trans FAs in the tissues comes from partially hydrogenated vegetable fats and oils allow us to predict a dietary intake range from I l.l to 27.6 g/person/day irons FAs. The significance of these estimates to nutrition policy is discussed. © American College of Nutrition.