title: Plasma fatty acid composition and 6-year incidence of hypertension in middle-aged adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.
abstract: The association of baseline fatty acid composition in plasma cholesterol esters with 6-year incidence of hypertension was examined in middle-aged Minneapolis participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study (1987-1995). Compared with those who were never hypertensive (n = 1,975), incident hypertensives (n = 413) had statistically significantly higher baseline levels of palmitic (16:0) and palmitoleic (16:1n7) acids but lower levels of linoleic (18:2n6) acid and the polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio (P/S ratio). Among polyunsaturated fatty acids, levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic (20:3n6) and arachidonic (20:4n6) acids were statistically significantly higher in incident hypertensives, compared with normotensives. After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, smoking status, ethanol intake, education level, physical activity, and baseline systolic blood pressure in separate models, the odds ratio estimates of incident hypertension for an interquartile increment of a fatty acid in cholesterol esters were 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 1.51) for 16:0, 1.11 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.28) for 16:1n7, 1.01 (95% CI: 0.85, 1.21) for 20:3n6, 1.14 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.27) for 20:5n3, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.96) for 18:2n6, and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.99) for the P/S ratio. The authors conclude that reduced levels of linoleic acid and the P/S ratio and elevated levels of palmitic and arachidonic acids are associated with a higher risk of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, USA.
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Folsom
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Arnett
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Eckfeldt
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids