Authors
Title
Abstract
In this study, we determined levels of individual fatty acid groups in season-dependent daily meals as eaten by children (10–12 years of age), teenagers (13–15 years of age), and students (19–25 years of age). The experiment was carried out in spring and autumn. Samples for analyses were collected using a double meal portion method, i.e. each meal consisting of food and drink was divided in two exactly the same portions: one to be eaten by children, and the second portion was taken for analysis. It was proved that the year season, when portions were collected, was not a factor deciding on the structure of daily fat consumption. Both in spring and autumn, the palmitic acid was dominant if compared to other saturated acids (its mean value was 27.20 and 27.20 g per 100g of fat), among the monounsaturated acids – the oleic acid (its mean value was 37.80 and 41.72 g per 100 g of fat), and among the polyunsaturated acids – the linoleic acid (9.12 and 7.95 g per 100 g of fat). Levels of saturated and monounsaturated acids in all the daily meals examined were comparable, although their ratio was respectively: 1.1 in spring, and 0.9 in autumn. The daily consumption level of polyunsaturated fatty acids as eaten by all the children polled was not satisfactory. A proportion of polyunsaturated to saturated acids in daily meals, both in the spring and autumn period, was 0.2. This type of a fatty acids consumption structure may affect the development of cardiovascular system diseases in the future.
Keywords
fatty acids, adolescents, daily consumption, daily meal