Table 3 Whole blood fatty acids composition by recruitment criteria in 1572 children with moderate acute malnutrition

Saturated fatty acid

45.35 (±3.38)

45.29 (±2.82)

45.24 (±2.82)

Monounsaturated fatty acid

22.77 (±3.53)

22.57 (±3.34)

22.29 (±3.31)

Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)

28.40 (±2.69)

28.54 (±2.78)

28.68 (±2.92)

 n-6 PUFA

25.91 (±2.53)

25.99 (±2.67)

26.11 (±2.77)

  Linoleic acid (LA)

18:2n-6

16.37 (±2.16)

16.15 (±2.31)

16.22 (±2.29)

  Dihomo-y-linolenic acid

20:3n-6

0.87 (±0.21)

0.85 (±0.21)

0.85 (±0.21)

  Arachidonic acid (AA)

20:4n-6

6.88 (±1.53)^1,2

7.15 (±1.53)

7.19 (±1.54)

  Adrenic Acid

22:4n-6

0.92 (±0.26)²

0.96 (±0.27)

0.97 (±0.27)

  n-6 Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA)

22:5n-6

0.37 (±0.13)

0.39 (±0.13)

0.38 (±0.13)

 n-3 PUFA

2.42 (±0.64)

2.50 (±0.68)

2.51 (±0.62)

  α-Linolenic acid (ALA)

18:3n-3

0.22 (±0.09)²

0.22 (±0.09)

0.20 (±0.09)

  Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)^a

20:5n-3

0.12 (0.09; 0.18)²

0.13 (0.10; 0.18)

0.14 (0.10; 0.20)

  n-3 Docosapentaenoic acid

22:5n-3

0.43 (±0.12)

0..45 (±0.13)

0.44 (±0.12)

  Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

22:6n-3

1.60 (±0.52)

1.65 (±0.54)

1.67 (±0.53)

 Mead acid

20:3n-9

0.07 (±0.03)

0.07 (±0.03)

0.07 (±0.02)

Mead acid:AA

20:3n-9/20:4n-6

0.01 (±0.01)

0.01 (±0.00)

0.01 (±0.01)

n-6 DPA:DHA

22:5n-6/22:6n-3

0.25 (±0.10)

0.25 (±0.10)

0.24 (±0.09)

n-6 PUFA:n-3 PUFA

11.40 (2.91)

11.10 (2.86)

11.00 (2.77)