Dataset Information

Plasma n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acids Are Differentially Related to Carotid Plaque and Its Progression: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:?-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FAs) have long been considered healthful dietary components, yet recent clinical trials have questioned their cardiovascular benefits. By contrast, the ?-6 (n-6) FAs have been considered harmful, proatherogenic macronutrients, despite an absence of empirical evidence supporting this hypothesis. We aimed to determine whether plasma n-3 and n-6 FAs are related to risk of carotid plaque and its progression in 3327 participants of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). APPROACH AND RESULTS:Carotid plaque was assessed using ultrasonography at baseline and after a median period of 9.5 years. Plasma phospholipid n-3 and n-6 FAs were determined using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. Relative risk regression analyses assessed the relations of FAs with the presence or progression of carotid plaque adjusted for typical cardiovascular disease risk factors. At baseline, it was found that participants in the fourth quartile of n-3 docosahexaenoic acid showed a 9% lower risk of carotid plaque (P=0.05), whereas those in the second quartile of n-3 ?-linolenic acid showed an 11% greater risk compared with respective referent quartiles (P=0.02). In prospective analyses, individuals in the top quartile of docosahexaenoic acid showed a 12% lower risk of carotid plaque progression during 9.5 years compared with those in the referent quartile (P=0.002). No significant relations were observed among n-6 FAs and plaque outcomes. No significant race/ethnicity interactions were found. CONCLUSIONS:These findings support docosahexaenoic acid as an atheroprotective macronutrient, whereas null findings for n-6 FAs challenge the view that they promote atherosclerosis.

SUBMITTER: Steffen BT

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5823763 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Plasma n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acids Are Differentially Related to Carotid Plaque and Its Progression: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Steffen Brian T BT Guan Weihua W Stein James H JH Tattersall Mathew C MC Kaufman Joel D JD Sandfort Veit V Szklo Moyses M Tsai Michael Y MY

Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology 20180111 3

<h4>Objective</h4>ω-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FAs) have long been considered healthful dietary components, yet recent clinical trials have questioned their cardiovascular benefits. By contrast, the ω-6 (n-6) FAs have been considered harmful, proatherogenic macronutrients, despite an absence of empirical evidence supporting this hypothesis. We aimed to determine whether plasma n-3 and n-6 FAs are related to risk of carotid plaque and its progression in 3327 participants of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of ...[more]

PMID: 29326315

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Project description:BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE:Previous research has focused on associations between dietary fat and body mass index (BMI), but the contributions of different types of fat to BMI remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to estimate whether plasma phospholipid omega-3 (n-3), omega-6 (n-6) or trans fatty acids are associated with BMI at baseline and with subsequent BMI changes over time; and whether total phospholipid n-6 or trans fatty acids modify any association between phospholipid n-3 and BMI. METHODS:Cross-sectional and longitudinal linear mixed models include 6243 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort. Participants were 45-84 years old, had no history of cardiovascular disease at baseline (2000-2002) and were followed for up to 10 years. Plasma phospholipid fatty acids were measured using fasting plasma samples at baseline. Fully adjusted models include demographics, health behaviors and other fatty acids (n-3, n-6 and trans) as appropriate. RESULTS:In fully adjusted models, phospholipid n-3 fatty acid levels were inversely associated with baseline BMI (Ptrend <0.001). Baseline BMI was 1.14 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71, 1.57) kg?m-2 lower among participants with total n-3 values in the highest vs the lowest quartiles, but was not associated with changes in BMI. Total phospholipid n-6 was positively associated with baseline BMI in partially adjusted but not fully adjusted models. No overall association was observed between fatty acid levels and changes in BMI. No clear association was observed between trans fatty acids and baseline BMI or BMI change. No effect modification in the association between phospholipid n-3 and baseline BMI or BMI change was observed by either phospholipid n-6 or trans fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS:Phospholipid total and specific n-3 fatty acid levels were inversely associated with BMI at baseline, whereas associations tended to be positive for total n-6 fatty acids. Significant associations between fatty acid levels and BMI changes were not observed.

Dataset Information

Plasma n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acids Are Differentially Related to Carotid Plaque and Its Progression: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Publications

Plasma n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acids Are Differentially Related to Carotid Plaque and Its Progression: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

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