title: Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition in ischemic stroke: importance of docosahexaenoic acid in the risk for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While data on the relationship between fatty acid (FA) composition and the risk for total stroke have accumulated, the association between FA composition and the risk for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) has never been studied. We compared plasma phospholipid FA composition between non-stroke control and ischemic stroke in Korean population, to discern the FA that distinguishes ICAS from total ischemic stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-stroke controls (n = 215) and stroke patients (no cerebral atherosclerotic stenosis, NCAS: n = 144 and ICAS: n = 104) were finally included in the analysis. Plasma phospholipid FA compositions were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age, coexistence of hypertension/diabetes were significantly different among the groups. Phospholipid FA compositions were significantly different between non-stroke control and ischemic stroke patients, and interestingly, between NCAS and ICAS in stroke patients. Pattern analysis showed that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the ω3-polyunsaturated FAs were important FAs in distinguishing NCAS and ICAS in strokes. Particularly, the risk of ICAS was inversely associated with levels of DHA contents in phospholipids (OR: 0.590, 95% CI: 0.350-0.993, p < 0.05), indicating that the risk may be increased at lower levels of DHA contents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHA and EPA are important FAs for distinguishing NCAS and ICAS in strokes. Additionally, the risk of ICAS was inversely associated with the levels of phospholipid DHA, which indicates that sufficient amounts of DHA in plasma or in diet may reduce the risk of ICAS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Oh Yoen
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoonsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Ji Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Young-Sang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Geum-Sook
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Min-Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid