Association of serum n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with lipids in 3 populations of middle-aged men.
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.
Motoyama
Kenneth R
KR
Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. kayrei@gmail.com
Curb
J David
JD
Kadowaki
Takashi
T
El-Saed
Aiman
A
Abbott
Robert D
RD
Okamura
Tomonori
T
Evans
Rhobert W
RW
Nakamura
Yasuyuki
Y
Sutton-Tyrrell
Kim
K
Rodriquez
Beatriz L
BL
Kadota
Aya
A
Edmundowicz
Daniel
D
Willcox
Bradley J
BJ
Choo
Jina
J
Katsumi
Nakata
N
Otake
Teruo
T
Kadowaki
Sayaka
S
Kuller
Lewis H
LH
Ueshima
Hirotusgu
H
Sekikawa
Akira
A
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
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides