Research status of the dietary reference intakes of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

In recent years, the roles of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n-3 PUFAs) in developing infant cognition and vision, improving immunity, preventing mental illness, cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular disease have gradually drawn people's attentions, thereby dietary reference intakes of n-3 PUFAs become one of the important focuses in these research fields. To better promote the functions of n- 3 PUFAs in improving human nutrition, development, health and reducing the risk of disease etc, the RNI and AI of n-3 PUFAs for different group offered by many world- known research institutes and official organizations, as well as their scientific researches and discussions on the intake ratio of n-6 / n-3 and tolerable upper intake level of n-3 PUFAs were summarized in this paper.And instability and cautions which might occur while using were also introduced. The above information provides more adequate and complete scientific basis and reference for Chinese dietary reference intakes of n-3PUFAs for different groups, adding amount of n-3 PUFAs in food and supplementary n-3 PUFAs intake.