• Inga Thorsdottir, Jeremy Hill, and Alfons Ramel.
• Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali-University Hospital and Department of Food Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik IS-101, Iceland. ingathor@landspitali.is
• Prev Med. 2004 Sep 1; 39 (3): 630-4.

BackgroundOmega-3 fatty acids may prevent type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). We investigated these fatty acids in Nordic cow's milk and whether their supply from milk associates with type 2 diabetes prevalence and CHD mortality in the Nordic countries.MethodsSamples (N = 84) of consumers' milk were collected in five Nordic countries four times during 1 year. Fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography. Fatty acids supply from milk fat was calculated using national food balance sheets.ResultsThe omega-3 fatty acids content was higher and omega-6 fatty acid content was lower in Icelandic milk when compared with milk from other Nordic countries. Type 2 diabetes prevalence in men correlated inversely with the supply of omega-3 fatty acids and eicosapentaenic acid, but positively with omega-6/omega-3 ratio in milk. CHD mortality in women correlated inversely with the supply of eicosapentaenic acid but positively with the omega-6/omega-3 ratio.ConclusionsMilk fatty acids content can depend upon the origin of the milk. The higher supply of omega-3 fatty acids from milk might explain the lower type 2 diabetes prevalence and CHD mortality in Iceland compared to the other Nordic countries.

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