Table of Contents

Component Description

Trans fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids that contain at least one double bond in the trans configuration. The three-dimensional structure of trans fatty acids is more similar to saturated fatty acids than to regular unsaturated fatty acids, which have their double bond in the cis configuration. The trans configuration substantially alters the physical properties of the fatty acids, and thus the properties of the oil containing these trans fatty acids for cooking and food manufacturing. Also, it substantially alters the biologic and health effects of the fatty acids when consumed.

A positive relationship between trans fatty acid intake, and total and LDL cholesterol concentration were established, which links elevated trans fatty acids in blood with increased risk of coronary heart diseases. The Institute of Medicine recommended that ‘trans fatty acid consumption be as low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet’.

In addition, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2000 and guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), were similar with recommendations to limit trans fat intake in the diet. In 2003, FDA amended its regulations on nutrition labeling to require that trans fatty acids be declared in the nutrition label of conventional foods and dietary supplements. This rule is intended to provide information to assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices.  In 2015, FDA determined that partially hydrogenated oils, the major source of artificial trans fat in the food supply, are no longer “Generally Recognized as Safe,” or GRAS. This new rule will be fully in effect in 2020.

Eligible Sample

Examined participants aged 3 years and older were eligible.

Description of Laboratory Methodology

The laboratory method used in this study was described previously (Kuiper et al. 2018) and measures the total (free and esterified) content of selected trans fatty acids in plasma and provides results in concentration. The trans fatty acids measured with this method are: trans-9-hexadecenoic acid (palmitelaidic acid, C16:1n-7t), trans-9-octadecenoic acid (elaidic acid, C18:1n-9t), trans-11-octadecenoic acid (vaccenic acid, C18:1n-7t), trans-9, trans-12-octadecadienoic acid (linolelaidic acid, C18:2n-6t, 9t).

The fatty acids in plasma are converted into free fatty acids by subsequent acidic and alkaline hydrolysis. The free fatty acids are extracted from the sample solution using liquid-liquid extraction and derivatized with pentafluorobenzylbromide (PFB-Br). The derivatized fatty acids are separated by capillary gas chromatography and detected by mass spectrometry using negative chemical ionization. 

The fatty acids are identified based on their chromatographic retention time and on the specific mass to charge ratio of the ion formed in the ion source. Retention times are compared against those obtained with known standards. Quantitation is performed with standard solution using stable isotope-labeled fatty acids as internal standards.

Refer to the Laboratory Method Files section for a detailed description of the laboratory methods used.

There were no changes to the lab method, lab equipment, or lab site for this component in the NHANES 2009-2010 cycle.

Laboratory Method Files

Trans Fatty Acids (Updated February 2019)

Laboratory Quality Assurance and Monitoring

Plasma samples were processed, stored, and shipped to Division of Laboratory Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA for analysis.

Detailed instructions on specimen collection and processing are discussed in the NHANES Laboratory Procedures Manual (LPM). Vials are stored under appropriate frozen (–30°C) conditions until they are shipped to National Center for Environmental Health for testing.

The NHANES quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols meet the 1988 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act mandates. Detailed QA/QC instructions are discussed in the NHANES LPM

Mobile Examination Centers (MECs)
Laboratory team performance is monitored using several techniques. NCHS and contract consultants use a structured competency assessment evaluation during visits to evaluate both the quality of the laboratory work and the quality-control procedures. Each laboratory staff member is observed for equipment operation, specimen collection and preparation; testing procedures and constructive feedback are given to each staff member. Formal retraining sessions are conducted annually to ensure that required skill levels were maintained.

Analytical Laboratories
NHANES uses several methods to monitor the quality of the analyses performed by the contract laboratories. In the MEC, these methods include performing blind split samples collected on “dry run” sessions. In addition, contract laboratories randomly perform repeat testing on 2% of all specimens.

NCHS developed and distributed a quality control protocol for all CDC and contract laboratories, which outlined the use of Westgard rules (Westgard, et al, 1981) when running NHANES specimens. Progress reports containing any problems encountered during shipping or receipt of specimens, summary statistics for each control pool, QC graphs, instrument calibration, reagents, and any special considerations are submitted to NCHS quarterly. The reports are reviewed for trends or shifts in the data. The laboratories are required to explain any identified areas of concern.

All QC procedures recommended by the manufacturers were followed. Reported results for all assays meet the Division of Laboratory Sciences’ quality control and quality assurance performance criteria for accuracy and precision, similar to the Westgard rules (Caudill, et al. 2008).

Data Processing and Editing

The data were reviewed. Incomplete data or improbable values were sent to the performing laboratory for confirmation.

Analytic Notes

Refer to the 2009-2010 Laboratory Data Overview for general information on NHANES laboratory data.

Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

Subsample weights
Trans fatty acids were measured in a full sample of participants 3-11 years old and a fasting subsample of persons 12 years and over.

Demographic and Other Related Variables
The analysis of NHANES laboratory data must be conducted using the appropriate survey design and demographic variables. The NHANES 2009-2010 Demographics File contains demographic data, health indicators, and other related information collected during household interviews as well as the sample design variables. The recommended procedure for variance estimation requires use of stratum and PSU variables (SDMVSTRA and SDMVPSU, respectively) in the demographic data file.

The Fasting Questionnaire File includes auxiliary information such as fasting status, the length of fast, and the time of venipuncture.


This laboratory data file can be linked to the other NHANES data files using the unique survey participant identifier (i.e., SEQN).

 

Detection Limits
The detection limits were constant for all of the analytes in the data set. The variable name ending “LC” (ex., LBDHDTLC) indicates whether the result was below the limit of detection: the value “0” means that the result was at or above the limit of detection, “1” indicates that the result was below the limit of detection.  For analytes with analytic results below the lower limit of detection (ex., LBDHDTLC =1), an imputed fill value was placed in the analyte results field. This value is the lower limit of detection divided by the square root of 2 (LLOD/sqrt[2]). The other variable prefixed URX (ex., LBXHDT) provides the analytic result for that analyte.

The lower limits of detection (LLOD, in µmol/L) for trans fatty acids are:

Variable Name 

SAS Label

LLOD 

 LBXHDT

 trans-9-hexadecenoic acid (µmol/L)

 0.07

 LBXOD9

 trans-9-octadecenoic acid(µmol/L)

 0.28

 LBXOD1

 trans-11-octadecenoic acid(µmol/L)

 0.43

 LBXOTT

 trans-9,12-octadecadienoicacid(µmol/L)

 0.02

References

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS

WTTFA2YR - Trans Fatty Acid Subsample 2 Year Weight

Variable Name:
WTTFA2YR
SAS Label:
Trans Fatty Acid Subsample 2 Year Weight
English Text:
Trans Fatty Acid Subsample 2 Year Weight
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 337218.92036 Range of Values 5423 5423
. Missing 0 5423

LBXHDT - trans-9-Hexadecenoic acid (umol/L)

Variable Name:
LBXHDT
SAS Label:
trans-9-Hexadecenoic acid (umol/L)
English Text:
Trans 9-Hexadecenoic acid concentrt (umol/L)
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0.757 to 33.1 Range of Values 4482 4482
. Missing 941 5423

LBDHDTLC - trans 9-Hexadecenoic acid comment code

Variable Name:
LBDHDTLC
SAS Label:
trans 9-Hexadecenoic acid comment code
English Text:
trans 9-Hexadecenoic acid comment code
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 At or above the detection limit 4482 4482
1 Below lower detection limit 0 4482
. Missing 941 5423

LBXOD1 - trans-11-Octadecenoic acid (umol/L)

Variable Name:
LBXOD1
SAS Label:
trans-11-Octadecenoic acid (umol/L)
English Text:
trans-11-Octadecenoic acid (umol/L)
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
2.07 to 161 Range of Values 4516 4516
. Missing 907 5423

LBDOD1LC - trans 11-Octadecenoic acid comment code

Variable Name:
LBDOD1LC
SAS Label:
trans 11-Octadecenoic acid comment code
English Text:
trans 11-Octadecenoic acid comment code
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 At or above the detection limit 4516 4516
1 Below lower detection limit 0 4516
. Missing 907 5423

LBXOD9 - trans-9-Octadecenoic acid (umol/L)

Variable Name:
LBXOD9
SAS Label:
trans-9-Octadecenoic acid (umol/L)
English Text:
trans-9-Octadecenoic acid (umol/L)
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
2.07 to 127 Range of Values 4485 4485
. Missing 938 5423

LBDOD9LC - trans 9-Octadecenoic acid comment code

Variable Name:
LBDOD9LC
SAS Label:
trans 9-Octadecenoic acid comment code
English Text:
trans 9-Octadecenoic acid comment code
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 At or above the detection limit 4485 4485
1 Below lower detection limit 0 4485
. Missing 938 5423

LBXOTT - trans,trans-9,12-Octadecadienoic(umol/L)

Variable Name:
LBXOTT
SAS Label:
trans,trans-9,12-Octadecadienoic(umol/L)
English Text:
Trans,trans-9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (umol/L)
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0.416 to 15.1 Range of Values 4262 4262
. Missing 1161 5423

LBDOTTLC - trans,trans-9,12-Octadecadienoic comt

Variable Name:
LBDOTTLC
SAS Label:
trans,trans-9,12-Octadecadienoic comt
English Text:
trans,trans-9,12-Octadecadienoic acid comment code
Target:
Both males and females 3 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 At or above the detection limit 4262 4262
1 Below lower detection limit 0 4262
. Missing 1161 5423