Association of serum eicosapentaenoic acid to arachidonic acid ratio with microalbuminuria in a population of community-dwelling Japanese.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological evidence suggests that the increased intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can prevent atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases. Recently, serum eicosapentaenoic acid to arachidonic acid (EPA/AA) ratio has been reported to be a predictive marker of cardiovascular events. Accordingly, we examined the relationship between serum EPA/AA ratio and microalbuminuria.


METHODS
We enrolled 444 residents (174 males and 270 females, mean age 66.6 ± 9.3 years) who underwent a physical examination in Uku town (fishing area) in Japan. They received blood tests including serum levels of EPA and AA, and urine test to examine microalbuminuria. Eating and drinking patterns were evaluated by a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Microalbuminuria was defined as a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥30 mg/g Cr.


RESULTS
The mean EPA/AA ratio was 0.66 ± 0.3 in males and 0.51 ± 0.2 in females. Multiple stepwise regression analyses revealed that systolic blood pressure (p < 0.0001), high sensitive C-reactive protein (p < 0.01), serum EPA/AA ratio (p < 0.01, inversely), and hemoglobin A1c (p < 0.05) were significantly associated with microalbuminuria. In the group with low serum EPA/AA ratio, the prevalence of microalbuminuria was significantly higher than the other, after the adjustments for confounding factors (odds ratio, 3.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-8.13; p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated that serum EPA/AA ratio was strongly associated with microalbuminuria.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan. Electronic address: fukami_ako@kurume-u.ac.jp.
Ako
A
Fukami
Department of Community Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Hisashi
H
Adachi
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Yuji
Y
Hirai
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Mika
M
Enomoto
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Maki
M
Otsuka
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Eita
E
Kumagai
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Sachiko
S
Nakamura
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Ayako
A
Yoshimura
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Aya
A
Obuchi
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Yume
Y
Nohara
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Erika
E
Nakao
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Kensuke
K
Hori
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Yoshihiro
Y
Fukumoto
D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000652:urine; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D003404:Creatinine
AA; EPA; EPA/AA ratio; Epidemiology; Microalbuminuria