Interrelation of saturated fat, trans fat, alcohol intake, and subclinical atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and alcohol alter cardiovascular disease risk, but their effect on subclinical atherosclerosis remains understudied.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to examine and quantify the interrelation of saturated fat, trans fat, alcohol intake, and mean carotid artery intimal medial thickness (IMT).


METHODS
We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study among 620 persons of Aboriginal, South Asian, Chinese, or European origin aged 35-75 y, who had lived in Canada for >or=5 y. Mean IMT was calculated from 6 well-defined segments of the right and left carotid arteries with standardized B-mode ultrasound, and saturated fat, trans fat, and alcohol intakes were measured with validated food-frequency questionnaires.


RESULTS
For every 10-g/d increase in saturated fat intake, IMT was 0.03 mm higher (P=0.01) after multivariate adjustment. A 1-g/d higher intake of trans fat was associated with a 0.03-mm higher IMT (P=0.02) after multivariate adjustment. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat (P:S) was inversely associated with IMT after multivariate adjustment (change in IMT: -0.06 mm; P<0.01). Saturated and trans fat intakes were independently associated with IMT thickness (change in IMT: 0.03 mm; P<0.01 and 0.02, respectively; P for interaction=0.01). Polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, cholesterol, and total fat intakes were unrelated to IMT. The relation between saturated fat intake and IMT strengthened (beta=0.0066, P<0.001) in persons who never or rarely consumed alcohol as compared with moderate or heavy drinkers (beta=0.0001, P=0.79, P for interaction=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher habitual intakes of saturated and trans fats are independently associated with increased subclinical atherosclerosis, and alcohol intake may attenuate the relation between saturated fat and subclinical atherosclerosis.
Merchant
Anwar T
AT
Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. anwar.merchant@post.harvard.edu
Kelemen
Linda E
LE
de Koning
Lawrence
L
Lonn
Eva
E
Vuksan
Vlad
V
Jacobs
Ruby
R
Davis
Bonnie
B
Teo
Koon K
KK
Yusuf
Salim
S
Anand
Sonia S
SS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044466:Asian People; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002170:Canada; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D044465:White People
D004041:Dietary Fats; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids