Nutrition during adolescence influences long-term health outcomes. Consumption of fish has many health benefits, yet few studies have investigated associations between fish intake and nutrient intake and lifestyle factors in adolescents. A cross-sectional study utilizing 24-hour dietary recalls obtained by in-person interviews investigated relationships between fish intake and demographic characteristics, nutrient intake, and lifestyle factors among adolescents (mean age = 15.5 years). Height, weight, and self-administered survey data were collected from 839 high school students who took part in the 2000-2004 Hawaii Nutrition Education Needs Assessment survey. About 8.5% of the students consumed fish, based on estimated EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) + DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) intakes. Adolescents who consumed fish had higher intake of protein, water, B vitamins, magnesium, selenium, and zinc but consumed more calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium. Considering the school health program’s potential to reach adolescents, more intensive school-based interventions can be directed to promote safe fish consumption and to encourage other positive lifestyle behaviors.
JolliffeCJJanssenI. Vascular risks and management of obesity in children and adolescents. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2006;2:171-187.
3.
SchuchardtJPHahnAHussMStauss-GraboM. Significance of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for the development and behaviour of children. Eur J Pediatr. 2010;169:149-164.
4.
SimopoulosAP. Omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acid ratio and chronic diseases. Food Rev Int. 2004;20:77-90.
5.
Kris-EthertonPMHarrisWSAppelLJ. American Heart Association scientific statement: fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2002;106:2747-2757.
6.
KentG. Fish and nutrition in the Pacific Islands. Asia Pac J Public Health. 1987;1:64-73.
7.
HardingA-HDayNEKhawK-T. Habitual fish consumption and glycated haemoglobin: the EPIC-Norfolk Study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004;58:277-284.
8.
OttenJJHellwigJPMeyersLD, eds. Dietary DRI Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2006.
9.
SidhuKS. Health benefits and potential risks related to consumption of fish or oily fish. Regul Toxicol Pharm. 2003;38:336-344.
10.
KromannNGreenA. Epidemiological studies in the Upernavik district, Greenland: incidence of some chronic diseases 1950-1974. Acta Med Scand. 1980;208:401-406.
GiddingSSDennisonBABirchLL. Dietary recommendations for children and adolescents: a guide for practitioners: consensus statement from the American Heart Association endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Circulation. 2005;112:2061-2075.
14.
CundiffDKLanouAJNiggCR. Relation of omega-3 fatty acid intake to other dietary factors known to reduce coronary heart disease risk. Am J Cardiol. 2006;99:1230-1233.
15.
OslerMAndreasenAHHoidrupS. No inverse association between fish consumption and risk of death from all-causes, and incidence of coronary heart disease in middle-aged, Danish adults. J Clin Epidemiol. 2003;56:274-279.
16.
ArancetaJPe’rez-RodrigoCRibasLSerra-MajemLI. Sociodemographic and lifestyle determinants of food patterns in Spanish children and adolescents: the enKid study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003;57:S40-S44.
17.
NanneyMSBohnerCFriedrichsM. Poverty-related factors associated with obesity prevention policies in Utah secondary schools. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108:1210-1215.
18.
SakaSLaiMShimabukuroSAfagaABunaoVTrundleH. Hawaii Nutrition Education Needs Assessment: Final Report 2000–2004. Honolulu, HI: Hawaii State Department of Health; 2005.
19.
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, release 24. http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/. Accessed September 14, 2012.
PieniakZVerbekeWScholdererJ. Health-related beliefs and consumer knowledge as determinants of fish consumption. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2010;23:480-488.
22.
WillettWStampferMJ. Total energy intake: implications for epidemiologic analyses. Am J Epidemiol. 1986;124:17-27.
23.
WattersCAEdmondsCMRosnerLSSlossKPLeungPS. A cost analysis of EPA and DHA in fish, supplements and foods. J Nutr Food Sci. 2012;2:159.
24.
MozaffarianDRimmEB. Fish intake, contaminants, and human health: evaluating the risks and the benefits. JAMA. 2006;296:1885-1899.
25.
MoyKLSallisJFTrinidadDRIceCLMcEligotAJ. Health behaviors of native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults in California. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2012;24:961-969.
26.
RaoG. Childhood obesity: highlights of AMA expert committee recommendations. Am Fam Physician. 2008;78:56-63.
27.
DoddKWGuentherPMFreedmanLS. Statistical methods for estimating usual intake of nutrients and foods: a review of the theory. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106:1640-1650.
28.
NelsonMBlackAEMorrisJAColeTM. Between- and within-subject variation in nutrient intake from infancy to old age: estimating the number of days required to rank dietary intakes with desired precision. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989;50:155-167.
29.
SkurtveitSSelmerRTverdalAFuruK. The validity of self-reported prescription medication use among adolescents varied by therapeutic class. J Clin Epidemiol. 2008;61:714-717.
30.
HebertJRHurleyTGChiribogaDEBaroneJ. A comparison of selected nutrient intake derived from three diet assessment methods used in a low-fat maintenance trial. Public Health Nutr. 1998;1:207-214.
