Dietary intake of fatty acids and serum C-reactive protein in Japanese.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation has been established as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The relationships of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids to inflammation are still controversial in Western populations. The relationships are not clear in Japanese whose intake of seafood-based long-chain n-3 PUFAs is high.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional epidemiologic study in the Japanese population (1,556 men and 1,461 women aged 35-60). Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured, and intakes of 7 specific fatty acids (% of energy) were evaluated by a validated self-administered dietary history questionnaire.


RESULTS
CRP was significantly and inversely related to the intakes of oleic acid (p=0.008) and alpha-linolenic acid (p=0.026) in women after adjustment for confounding factors. A multiple regression analysis showed that, especially in the middle tertile of long-chain n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) intake, CRP was inversely related to the intake of oleic acid and linoleic acid in both sexes and to the intake of alpha-linolenic acid in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Intakes of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid would reduce serum CRP, especially when the intake of long-chain n-3 PUFAs is at a moderate level in Japanese.
Yoneyama
Satoko
S
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan. yoneyama@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
Miura
Katsuyuki
K
Sasaki
Satoshi
S
Yoshita
Katsushi
K
Morikawa
Yuko
Y
Ishizaki
Masao
M
Kido
Teruhiko
T
Naruse
Yuchi
Y
Nakagawa
Hideaki
H
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein