Diagnosing Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency
June 1998
in “
Circulation
”
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Studysummary This letter discusses how outdated measurement technology may obscure evidence of essential fatty acid deficiency in low-fat diet patients, potentially leading to undiagnosed EFA insufficiencies related to heart disease.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The document from 1998 discussed the diagnosis of essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency, critiquing the high triene/tetraene (T/T) ratio used by Dr. Gould and colleagues, which Dr. Siguel argued led to underdiagnosis due to outdated technology. Siguel emphasized the health risks of even mild EFA insufficiency, such as abnormal lipid levels, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, and warned that low-fat diets and fat substitutes could worsen EFA insufficiency. The document also noted that EFA deficiency is rare in free-living adults but can occur in those on very low-fat diets, leading to symptoms like memory loss and visual issues, which improve with increased EFA intake. It recommended maintaining at least 10% of calories from fat and using specific oils like soybean and walnut oil to meet EFA requirements.
