Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and liver enzymes in HIV-infected subjects: the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study.
BACKGROUND
Omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake was previously reported to be adversely related to liver function in HIV-infected subjects, when compared with HIV-uninfected subjects, in a black population in South Africa. It was speculated that the use of heavily oxidized vegetable fats (abused fats) could have been responsible.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives were to investigate the relation between plasma total PUFA concentrations (a marker of PUFA intake) and liver enzymes in HIV-infected asymptomatic compared with HIV-uninfected black South Africans and to investigate the reuse of oil and the use of abused oils.


METHODS
This was a case-control study nested in an epidemiologic study in 305 HIV-infected cases and 301 HIV-uninfected matched controls (matched according to location, sex, and age), as part of the PURE (Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology) Study, a prospective cohort study that includes a representative sample of 2000 apparently healthy black volunteers, aged between 36 and 60 y, from the North West Province of South Africa.


RESULTS
Plasma total omega-6 PUFA concentrations were negatively (P < 0.05) associated with liver enzymes (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotranferase, and alkaline phosphatase) in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected subjects (r values ranged from -0.22 to -0.56). Almost all subjects (99%) reported that they did not buy oil that had been used before. Oil was only used a mean (+/-SD) of 2.23 +/- 0.85 times for deep frying before being discarded.


CONCLUSIONS
The adverse relations between omega-6 PUFA intake and liver enzymes that were previously shown could not be confirmed in this study. In contrast, plasma omega-6 PUFA concentration was inversely related to liver enzymes in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected subjects. Subjects in this study did not use abused fats, which could partly explain these findings.
Stonehouse
Welma
W
Institute of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. w.stonehouse@massey.ac.nz
Kruger
Annamarie
A
Smuts
Cornelius M
CM
Loots
Du Toit
du T
Wentzel-Viljoen
Edelweiss
E
Vorster
Hester H
HH
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000592:standards*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D004041:Dietary Fats; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D010938:Plant Oils; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase