Aim:
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are inversely related to coronary heart disease (CHD) in epidemiological studies. We examined the associations of plasma n-6 and n-3 PUFA in cholesteryl esters with fatal CHD in a nested case-control study.
Methods
We used data from two population-based cohort studies in Dutch adults aged 20-65 years. Blood sampling and data collection took place from 1987–1997 and subjects were followed for 8–19 years. We identified 279 incident cases of fatal CHD (235 fatal myocardial infarctions and 44 cardiac arrests) and randomly selected 279 controls, matched on age, gender, and enrollment date. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated per standard deviation (SD) increase of fatty acids in cholesteryl esters using multivariable conditional logistic regression models.
Results
After adjustment for confounders, the OR (95% CI) for fatal CHD per SD increase in plasma linoleic acid was 0.89 (0.74-1.06). Additional adjustment for plasma total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure attenuated this association (OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.78–1.15). Plasma arachidonic acid was not associated with fatal CHD (OR per SD: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.92-1.35). The ORs (95% CI) for fatal CHD for an SD increase in n-3 PUFA were 0.92 (0.74-1.15) for plasma alpha-linolenic acid and 1.06 (0.88-1.27) for plasma EPA-DHA.
Conclusion
In this Dutch adult population, arachidonic acid and n-3 PUFA in cholesteryl esters were not related to fatal CHD. Our data support findings from previous prospective studies showing a lower proportion of linoleic acid in plasma cholesteryl esters in CHD cases.
Serum α-linolenic and other ω-3 fatty acids, and risk of disabling dementia: Community-based nested case–control study
