N-6 and n-3 fatty acid cholesteryl esters in relation to incident stroke in a Dutch adult population: a nested case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
There are few prospective studies on fatty acid status in relation to incident stroke, with inconsistent results. We assessed the associations of plasma n-6 and n-3 PUFA in cholesteryl esters with the risk of total stroke and stroke subtypes in Dutch adults.


RESULTS
We conducted a nested case-control study using data from a population-based cohort study in adults aged 20-65 years. Blood sampling and data collection took place during 1993-1997 and subjects were followed for 8-13 years. We identified 179 incident cases of stroke and 179 randomly selected controls, matched on age, gender, and enrollment date. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated per standard deviation (SD) increase of PUFA in cholesteryl esters using multivariable conditional logistic regression. Cases comprised 93 ischemic, 50 hemorrhagic, and 36 unspecified strokes. The n-6 PUFA linoleic acid and arachidonic acid contributed ~55% and ~6.5% respectively to total plasma fatty acids, whereas the n-3 PUFA alpha-linolenic acid contributed ~0.5% and eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid (EPA-DHA) ~1.3%. After adjustment for confounders, n-6 and n-3 PUFA were not associated with incident total stroke or stroke subtypes. The OR (95% CI) for total stroke was 0.95 (0.74-1.23) per SD increase in linoleic acid and 1.02 (0.80-1.30) per SD increase in arachidonic acid. ORs (95% CI) for total stroke were 0.94 (0.72-1.21) for alpha-linolenic acid and 1.16 (0.94-1.45) for EPA-DHA.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, plasma n-6 or n-3 fatty acids were not related to incident stroke or stroke subtypes.
Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, PO Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands.
J
J
De Goede
W M M
WM
Verschuren
J M A
JM
Boer
D
D
Kromhout
J M
JM
Geleijnse
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6