Markers of high fish intake are associated with decreased risk of a first myocardial infarction.
High intake of fish has been associated with reduced risk of CHD. The high content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in fish has been suggested to be a protective factor. In addition, fish is the entirely dominating source of methylmercury for the general population, and the concentration of Hg in erythrocytes (Ery-Hg) is often used as an index of fish consumption. Our aim was to study the relationships between a first-ever myocardial infarction, Ery-Hg, activity of gluthathione peroxidase in erythrocytes (Ery-GSH-Px) and plasma concentration of the n-3 PUFA eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (P-PUFA). In a population-based prospective nested case-control study within Northern Sweden seventy-eight cases of a first-ever myocardial infarction were compared with 156 controls with respect to Ery-Hg, P-PUFA and Ery-GSH-Px. Both Ery-Hg and P-PUFA, but not Ery-GSH-Px, were significantly higher in subjects reporting high fish intake (at least one meal per week) than in those with lower intake. This finding suggests that Ery-Hg and P-PUFA reflect previous long-term fish intake. Low risk of myocardial infarction was associated with high Ery-Hg or high P-PUFA. In a multivariate model the risk of myocardial infarction was further reduced in subjects with both high Ery-Hg and high P-PUFA (odds ratio 0.16, 95 % CI 0.04, 0.65). In conclusion, there is a strong inverse association between the risk of a first myocardial infarction and the biomarkers of fish intake, Ery-Hg and P-PUFA, and this association is independent of traditional risk factors.
Hallgren
C G
CG
Unit for Community Medicine, County Council of Västerbotten, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden.
Hallmans
G
G
Jansson
J H
JH
Marklund
S L
SL
Huhtasaari
F
F
Schütz
A
A
Strömberg
U
U
Vessby
B
B
Skerfving
S
S
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk
D015415:Biomarkers; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D008628:Mercury