Different dietary fatty acids are associated with blood lipids in healthy South African men and women: the PURE study.
BACKGROUND
Preliminary data from the baseline Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study in South Africa indicated a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia than previous South African studies. The intake of specific individual dietary fatty acids may affect blood lipids differently than sub-groups of fat (i.e. polyunsaturated fatty acids). We investigated the dietary intake of different individual fatty acids and their associations with blood lipids, in relation to urbanization and gender.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data analysis within the PURE baseline study of healthy subjects (n=1950, 35-70 years) from rural and urban areas. Dietary data were collected and blood lipid analysis performed.


RESULTS
Intake of individual fatty acids was significantly higher in urban than rural dwellers. However, the intake of n-3 PUFAs was below recommendations in all groups. Total cholesterol and LDL were higher in females than in males, with no rural‒urban differences. Intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) was positively associated with total cholesterol (β=0.143) and triglycerides (β=0.256) in males. The risk for having elevated LDL also increased with increased intake of ALA (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.04, 2.14) in males. In females, arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were positively associated with total cholesterol and arachidonic acid was also positively associated with LDL, whereas docosahexaenoic acid was negatively associated with total cholesterol and LDL.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that specific individual dietary fatty acids may affect blood lipids in males differently than in females irrespective of rural or urban dwelling. The positive association between ALA and total cholesterol and triglycerides in males is a concern, because current advice aims to improve the dietary linoleic acid to ALA ratio by increasing ALA intake.
Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. Electronic address: richter.marilize@gmail.com.
Marilize
M
Richter
Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa.
Jeannine
J
Baumgartner
Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa.
Edelweiss
E
Wentzel-Viljoen
Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa.
Cornelius M
CM
Smuts
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids
Alpha-linolenic acid; Blood lipids; Dietary fatty acids; Docosahexaenoic acid; Eicosapentaenoic acid; Nutrition transition