Associations of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid with risk factors for coronary heart disease.
BACKGROUND
Prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in high-risk subjects.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the associations of dietary intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) as assessed by food frequency questionnaire and in the plasma cholesteryl ester (CE), with CHD risk factors.


METHODS
Baseline data of a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. Subjects have hypercholesterolemia (6.0-8.0 mmol/l) and at least two other CHD risk factors (n=266).


RESULTS
The reported dietary ALA and LA intakes and the LA/ALA ratio were associated with the contents in the CE (r=0.37, r=0.21, and r=0.42, respectively; P<0.01). In multivariate analysis, CE ALA was inversely associated with diastolic blood pressure (r=-0.13; P<0.05) and positively with serum triacylglycerol (r=0.13; P<0.05), and CE LA was inversely associated with serum triacylglycerol (r=-0.32; P<0.01). The CE LA/ALA ratio was strongly inversely associated with CE ALA (r=-0.95; P<0.01). In the lowest quintile of CE ALA, mean dietary intake was 0.4 energy % ALA (1.2 g/day), 8.4 energy % LA and an LA/ALA ratio of 21, and in the highest quintile 0.6 energy % ALA (1.7 g/day), 6.8 energy % LA and 12 (ratio). In the lowest quintile of CE ALA the diastolic blood pressure was 4 mm Hg lower (P trend<0.05), and the serum triacylglycerol 0.3 mmol/l higher (P trend NS) when compared with the top quintile.


CONCLUSIONS
In a CHD high-risk population with LA-rich background diet, these cross-sectional data suggest that replacing LA in the diet by ALA may decrease diastolic blood pressure, and may increase serum triacylglycerol concentration.
Bemelmans
W J
WJ
University of Groningen, Department of Family Medicine, Groningen, The Netherlands. w.bemelmans@med.rug.nl
Muskiet
F A
FA
Feskens
E J
EJ
de Vries
J H
JH
Broer
J
J
May
J F
JF
Jong
B M
BM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid