title: Serum N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels correlate with the extent of coronary plaques and calcifications in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between serum fatty acid levels and the extent of coronary plaques and calcification was examined in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) and the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (arachidonic acid (AA) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA)) were determined using gas chromatography on admission of 95 consecutive patients with their first AMI and 17 controls. Using multidetector-row computed tomography, soft plaques and calcification lesions were scored according to the extent of coronary involvement. Serum logarithmic transformed (log) EPA and logDHA levels were inversely correlated with soft plaque scores (r=-0.546, p<0.0001 and r=-0.377, p<0.0001, respectively). Serum logAA and logDGLA levels were not significantly correlated with soft plaque scores. Serum logEPA and logDHA levels were significantly, but weakly, correlated with calcification scores. Multivariate analysis with clinical characteristics and risk factors selected serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels as independent factors associated with the extent of coronary soft plaques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates a significant correlation between serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and the extent of coronary soft plaques and calcification in AMI patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mitoyo General Hospital, Kagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueeda
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doumei
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takaya
authors.forename: Ryoko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shinohata
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takaishi
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirohata
authors.forename: Shozo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kusachi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated