Awareness of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Possible Health Effects among Young Adults
Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
16 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose: To assess awareness of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) and their possible health effects among young adults.
Methods: An online survey was deployed to young adults. Questionnaire development involved identification of topic areas by content experts and adaptation of questions from previous consumer surveys. Focus groups and cognitive interviews ensured face validity, feasibility, and clarity of survey questions. Degrees of awareness and self-reported consumption were assessed by descriptive statistics and associations by Cochran’s Q tests, Pearson’s χ2 tests, Z-tests, and logistic regression.
Results: Of the 834 survey completers (aged 18–25 years), more respondents recognized the abbreviations EPA (∼51%) and DHA (∼66%) relative to ALA (∼40%; P ≤ 0.01). Most respondents (∼83%) recognized that EPA and DHA have been linked to heart and brain health. Respondents who used academic/reputable sources, healthcare professionals, and/or social media to obtain nutritional information were more likely to report awareness of these health effects (P ≤ 0.01). Finally, 48% of respondents reported purchasing or consuming omega-3 foods, while 21% reported taking omega-3 supplements.
Conclusions: This baseline survey suggests a high level of awareness of some aspects of omega-3 fats and health in a sample of young adults, and social media has become a prominent source of nutrition and health information.
Résumé
Objectif : Évaluer le niveau de connaissance de jeunes adultes sur les acides gras oméga-3 et leurs effets potentiels sur la santé.
Méthodes : Un sondage en ligne a été effectué auprès de jeunes adultes. Dans le cadre de l’élaboration du questionnaire, des experts en contenu ont défini différents sujets, et des questions tirées d’autres sondages menés auprès des consommateurs ont été adaptées. Des groupes de discussion et des entretiens cognitifs ont été utilisés pour assurer la validité apparente, la faisabilité et la clarté des questions du sondage. Les niveaux de connaissances et de consommation autodéclarée ont été évalués par l’entremise de statistiques descriptives et d’associations à l’aide de tests Q de Cochran, de tests du khi-carré de Pearson, de tests Z et de régression logistique.
Résultats : Parmi les 834 personnes (âgées de 18 à 25 ans) ayant répondu au sondage, plus de répondants reconnaissaient les abréviations EPA (∼51 %) et DHA (∼66 %) que l’abréviation ALA (∼40 %; P ≤ 0,01). La plupart des répondants (∼83 %) savaient que l’EPA et le DHA étaient associés à la santé du cœur et du cerveau. Les répondants qui tiraient leur information nutritionnelle de sources universitaires/dignes de confiance, de professionnels de la santé et/ou des médias sociaux étaient plus susceptibles d’affirmer connaître ces effets sur la santé (P ≤ 0,01). Finalement, 48 % des répondants ont rapporté acheter ou consommer des aliments contenant des oméga-3, et 21 % ont rapporté prendre des suppléments d’oméga-3.
Conclusions : Cette enquête de référence suggère un niveau élevé de connaissances quant à certains aspects des acides gras oméga-3 et de la santé au sein d’un échantillon de jeunes adultes, et que les médias sociaux sont devenus une source importante d’information sur la santé et la nutrition.
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Financial support: This work was supported by grant #450115 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 79 • Number 3 • September 2018
Pages: 106 - 112
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Version of record online: 16 March 2018
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© 2018.
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KaitlinRokePhD, JodiRattnerBSc, PaulaBrauerPhD, RD, and David M.MutchPhD. 2018. Awareness of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Possible Health Effects among Young Adults. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.
79(3): 106-112. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2018-005
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