title: Association of serum n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with lipids in 3 populations of middle-aged men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association of serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with lipids in different populations is not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to examine the association of serum n-6 (omega-6) or n-3 (omega-3) PUFAs with triglycerides or HDL-cholesterol concentrations in 261 white, 285 Japanese, and 212 Japanese American men aged 40-49 y.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a population-based cross-sectional study. Of the original sample (n = 926), those taking lipid-lowering medications or who had diabetes (n = 168) were excluded. Serum fatty acids were analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Multiple regression models as a function of tertile groups of each PUFA were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum n-6 PUFAs were significantly inversely associated with triglycerides across populations after adjustment for age, body mass index, pack-years of smoking, and ethanol consumption [beta = -0.39 (P < 0.001), -0.38 (P < 0.001), and -0.33 (P < 0.001) in whites, Japanese, and Japanese Americans, respectively]. Marine n-3 PUFAs were significantly inversely associated with triglycerides across populations [beta = -0.15 (P < 0.001), -0.22 (P < 0.001), and -0.13 (P < 0.001) in whites, Japanese, and Japanese Americans, respectively]. n-6 PUFAs were significantly positively associated with HDL cholesterol in whites (beta = 4.49, P < 0.001) and Japanese (beta = 3.73, P < 0.01). Marine n-3 PUFAs were significantly positively associated with HDL cholesterol in Japanese (beta = 2.15, P < 0.05), and eicosapentaenoic acid was significantly positively associated with HDL cholesterol in whites (beta = 2.68, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum n-6 and n-3 PUFAs are inversely associated with triglycerides across populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. kayrei@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Motoyama
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Curb
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kadowaki
authors.forename: Aiman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Saed
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Rhobert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sutton-Tyrrell
authors.forename: Beatriz L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Rodriquez
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadota
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edmundowicz
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Willcox
authors.forename: Jina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Nakata
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsumi
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otake
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadowaki
authors.forename: Lewis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Kuller
authors.forename: Hirotusgu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueshima
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sekikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005215:Fasting; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides