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Table 2 Baseline, 8 weeks, and change from baseline to 8 weeks concentrations for n3 and n6 plasma phospholipid fatty acids in μg/ml 1

From: Total dietary fat and omega-3 fatty acids have modest effects on urinary sex hormones in postmenopausal women

  High fat Low fat Low fat + n-3  
n = 17 n = 16 n = 17 p-value2
18:2n6     
   Baseline 280.69 ± 14.57 284.66 ± 14.76 293.95 ± 14.59 0.41
   8 weeks 285.49 ± 12.54a 269.21 ± 12.86a 233.08 ± 12.59b* 0.0006
   Δ 8 weeks 4.81 ± 10.90a −16.08 ± 11.29a −60.85 ± 10.95b 0.0001
   p-value3 0.66 0.16 < 0.0001  
18:3n3     
   Baseline 4.00 ± 0.86 4.51 ± 0.88 3.22 ± 0.86 0.34
   8 weeks 2.57 ± 0.45a 3.12 ± 0.47a 6.85 ± 0.45b* < 0.0001
   Δ 8 weeks −1.43 ± 0.79a −1.30 ± 0.82a 3.62 ± 0.79b < 0.0001
   p-value3 0.08 0.12 < 0.0001  
20:4n6     
   Baseline 120.62 ± 7.83 121.51 ± 7.94 126.04 ± 7.84 0.59
   8 weeks 107.89 ± 7.14a* 135.62 ± 7.34b* 100.12 ± 7.17a* 0.0001
   Δ 8 weeks −12.72 ± 5.13a 13.47 ± 5.33b −25.90 ± 5.16a < 0.0001
   p-value3 0.02 0.02 < 0.0001  
20:5n-3     
   Baseline 11.43 ± 1.77 11.80 ± 1.82 9.69 ± 1.78 0.49
   8 weeks 6.89 ± 1.80a* 9.99 ± 1.87a 29.86 ± 1.81b* < 0.0001
   Δ 8 weeks −4.54 ± 1.94a −1.91 ± 2.02a 20.17 ± 1.96b < 0.0001
   p-value3 0.02 0.35 < 0.0001  
22:5n-3     
   Baseline 9.94 ± 0.78 10.56 ± 0.79 10.72 ± 0.78 0.49
   8 weeks 8.41 ± 0.88a* 11.04 ± 0.91b 13.45 ± 0.89c* < 0.0001
   Δ 8 weeks −1.52 ± 0.69a 0.36 ± 0.72a 2.73 ± 0.70b < 0.0001
   p-value3 0.03 0.62 0.0003  
22:6n-3     
   Baseline 30.18 ± 2.82 28.90 ± 2.89 29.68 ± 2.83 0.89
   8 weeks 24.06 ± 3.77a* 35.03 ± 3.90b* 55.00 ± 3.78c* < 0.0001
   Δ 8 weeks −6.12 ± 2.56a 5.95 ± 2.65b 25.32 ± 2.57c < 0.0001
   p-value3 0.02 0.03 < 0.0001  
Total n-3     
   Baseline 59.71 ± 5.33 60.07 ± 5.42 56.75 ± 5.34 0.68
   8 weeks 44.50 ± 6.37a* 62.86 ± 6.60b 110.10 ± 6.41c* < 0.0001
   Δ 8 weeks −15.21 ± 4.95a 2.55 ± 5.14b 54.36 ± 4.98c < 0.0001
   p-value3 0.004 0.62 < 0.0001  
Total n-6     
   Baseline 452.87 ± 21.30 456.78 ± 21.57 468.55 ± 21.34 0.53
   8 weeks 432.99 ± 18.17a 458.41 ± 18.74a 370.63 ± 18.25b* 0.0005
   Δ 8 weeks −19.85 ± 14.82a −0.58 ±15.34a −97.85 ± 14.89b < 0.0001
   p-value3 0.19 0.97 < 0.0001  
  1. 1All values are LS means ± standard error.
  2. 2p-value for effect of treatment across the three diets evaluated using a general linear mixed model. Values with differing letters as a superscript are significantly different at p < 0.05.
  3. 3p-value for paired t-test comparing baseline and 8 weeks means within each diet.
  4. *8 week mean is significantly different from baseline mean.
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