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Analysis of institutional authors

Samaniego-Vaesken, Maria De LourdesAuthorPuga, Ana MAuthorMontero-Bravo, AnaAuthorRuperto, MarAuthorPartearroyo, TeresaAuthorVarela-Moreiras, GregorioCorresponding Author

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March 20, 2023
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Omega-3 and Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intakes, Determinants and Dietary Sources in the Spanish Population: Findings from the ANIBES Study

Publicated to:Nutrients. 15 (3): 562- - 2023-02-01 15(3), DOI: 10.3390/nu15030562

Authors: Redruello-Requejo, Marina; Samaniego-Vaesken, Maria de Lourdes; Puga, Ana M; Montero-Bravo, Ana; Ruperto, Mar; Rodriguez-Alonso, Paula; Partearroyo, Teresa; Varela-Moreiras, Gregorio

Affiliations

CEU Univ, Univ San Pablo CEU, Fac Farm, Dept Ciencias Farmaceut & Salud,Grp USPCEU Excele, Boadilla Del Monte 28660, Spain - Author
Spanish Nutr Fdn FEN, C-Gen Alvarez Castro 20,1 Apta, Madrid 28010, Spain - Author

Abstract

The multiple roles of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in growth and general health are well documented. However, available intake data for the Spanish population are limited and lack gender and age considerations. Therefore, our goal was to assess dietary intake adequacy of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA, their determinants and their major food sources among the Spanish population. Due to their influence on various beneficial functions attributed to omega-3 PUFA, combined intake adequacy with folic acid (FA), vitamin B-12 and choline was also assessed. Intake data were obtained from the ANIBES cross-sectional study on a representative sample of the Spanish population (9-75 years; n = 2009), where dietary intake was analysed with a three-day dietary record. Median intake of total omega-3 PUFA stood at 0.81 g/day (0.56-1.19 g/day), with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) at 0.61 g/day (0.45-0.85 g/day), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at 0.03 g/day (0.01-0.12 g/day) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) at 0.06 g/day (0.0-0.20 g/day). Accordingly, 65% of the Spanish population showed insufficient intakes for total omega-3 PUFA; 87% for ALA, and 83% for combined EPA and DHA. Inadequate intakes were significantly higher in children, adolescents, and younger women of childbearing age (18-30 years). In contrast, inadequacy due to excessive intakes was almost negligible. Regarding omega-6 PUFA, total intake was 10.1 g/day (7.0-14.0 g/day), 10.0 g/day (6.9-13.9 g/day) for linoleic acid (LA) and 0.08 g/day (0.05-0.13 g/day) for arachidonic acid (AA). Non-compliance due to either insufficient or excessive intakes of LA stood at around 5% of the sample, with the elderly showing significantly higher degrees of inadequacy due to insufficient intakes (10%; p <= 0.05). Median omega-6 to omega-3 ratio was 12:1, and significantly higher in men compared to women (p <= 0.05); in children, adolescents and adults compared to the elderly (p <= 0.05); and in younger women of childbearing age compared to the older group (31-45 years) (p <= 0.001). Oils and fats and meat and meat products were the main dietary sources for the essential fatty acids LA and ALA, respectively. Meat and meat products were as well the main providers of AA, while fish and shellfish were almost exclusively the only sources of EPA and DHA. However, main food sources identified showed important differences across age groups. Finally, the total combined degree of inadequacy observed for omega-3 PUFA, FA, vitamin B-12 and choline reached 21.3% of the ANIBES population. The observed degree of inadequacy of omega-3 PUFA intakes among the Spanish population makes it urgent to increase its consumption and to consider the need for supplementation. This should also be the main strategy for the optimization of the omega-6/omega-3 ratio, as the adequacy observed for omega-6 intakes is relatively acceptable. Additional improvement of the dietary intake of FA, vitamin B-12 and choline could contribute to the beneficial effects of omega-3 PUFA.

Keywords

Alpha-linolenic acidAnibes studyAnimalsArachidonic acidCholineCoronary-heart-diseaseCross-sectional studiesDhaDietDietary habitsDocosahexaenoic acidsEicosapentaenoic acidEpaFatty acids, omega-3Fatty acids, unsaturatedFemaleFish consumptionFolic acidFood sourcesLinoleic acidLipid mediatorsMeatMetaanalysisN-3Nutrition assessmentOmega-3Omega-3-fatty-acidsOmega-6RecommendationsSpanish populationSupplementationVitamin b 12Vitamin b-12Vitamin b12

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Nutrients due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 18/114, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Nutrition & Dietetics.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.73. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.69 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 8.09 (source consulted: Dimensions Aug 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-08-07, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 10
  • Scopus: 12
  • Europe PMC: 8

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-08-07:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 52.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 54 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 28.85.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 16 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 2 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Redruello-Requejo, Marina) and Last Author (VARELA MOREIRAS, GREGORIO).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been VARELA MOREIRAS, GREGORIO.