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The relation of red blood cell fatty acids with vascular stiffness, cardiac structure and left ventricular function:
Bernhard M Kaess1, William S Harris2, Sean Lacey3
1National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's and Boston University's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA Deutsches Herzzentrum, Technische Universität, München, Germany bernhard_kaess@gmx.de.
Insights
Higher omega-3 fatty acids in red blood cells were linked to lower aortic stiffness. Omega-6 fatty acids, like linoleic acid, were associated with smaller left atrial size, suggesting potential cardiovascular benefits.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) show potential cardiovascular benefits.
- Mechanisms and associations with subclinical cardiovascular disease measures are unclear.
- Data on PUFAs and vascular stiffness/cardiac function are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between omega-3 and other fatty acids and vascular/cardiac measures.
- To assess red blood cell (RBC) membrane fatty acid composition as a biomarker of long-term intake.
- To examine relationships with vascular stiffness and echocardiographic traits.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of Framingham Offspring and Omni cohorts (n=3055).
- Red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid composition analysis.
- Tonometry for vascular stiffness and echocardiography for cardiac function assessment.
- Partial correlation analyses adjusted for confounders.
Main Results:
- Higher RBC omega-3 content associated with improved vascular stiffness and function measures.
- Significant inverse association between RBC omega-3 and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (aortic stiffness).
- Higher linoleic acid (omega-6) associated with smaller left atrial size.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest potential protective cardiovascular effects of omega-3 and linoleic acid.
- Associations were modest, and clinical significance requires further investigation.
- RBC fatty acid composition reflects long-term intake and cardiovascular associations.
Abstract:
Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been associated with beneficial influences on cardiovascular health. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clear, and data on the relations of polyunsaturated fatty acids to subclinical disease measures such as vascular stiffness and cardiac function are sparse and inconclusive. In a large community-based cohort, we examined the relations of omega-3 and other fatty acids to a comprehensive panel of vascular function measures (assessing microvascular function and large artery stiffness), cardiac structure and left ventricular function. Red blood cell (RBC) membrane fatty acid composition, a measure of long-term fatty acid intake, was assessed in participants of the Framingham Offspring Study and Omni cohorts and related to tonometry-derived measures of vascular stiffness and to a panel of echocardiographic traits using partial correlations. Up to n=3055 individuals (56% women, mean age 66 years) were available for analyses. In age- and sex-adjusted models, higher RBC omega-3 content was moderately associated (p≤0.002) with several measures of vascular stiffness and function in a protective direction. However, after multivariable adjustment, only an association of higher RBC omega-3 content with lower carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (a measure of aortic stiffness) remained significant (r = -0.06, p=0.002). In secondary analyses, higher linoleic acid, the major nutritional omega-6 fatty acid, was associated with smaller left atrial size, even after multivariable adjustment (r = -0.064, p<0.001). In conclusion, in our cross-sectional community-based study, we found several associations consistent with the notion of protective effects of omega-3 and linoleic acid. The clinical significance of these modest associations remains to be elucidated.