Association between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocytes and metabolic syndrome in Chinese men and women.
OBJECTIVE
Evidence of an association between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and metabolic syndrome (MS) is limited and inconsistent. We investigated the association between n-3 PUFAs in erythrocytes and the presence of MS in Chinese adults.


METHODS
The levels of α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes were measured using gas chromatography in 3072 participants (900 men and 2172 women) aged 30-75 years from Guangzhou, China. Cardiometabolic factors were determined, and MS was defined using the updated Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Other covariates were collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires.


RESULTS
After adjusting for age and other confounders, higher levels of marine-derived n-3 PUFAs, including EPA, DPA, and DHA, were associated with a lower presence of metabolic syndrome in both men and women. The odds ratios (95 % confidence interval) for MS obtained by comparing extreme quartiles were 0.55 (0.35-0.88) (EPA), 0.54 (0.34-0.87) (DPA), 0.45 (0.27-0.73) (DHA), and 0.52 (0.32-0.84) (total n-3 PUFAs) in men (p trend <0.05 for all results); and 0.74 (0.56-0.99) (EPA), 0.73 (0.55-0.98) (DPA), 0.75 (0.56-1.02) (DHA), and 0.71 (0.53-0.96) (total n-3 PUFAs) in women, respectively. No significant association of ALA with MS was observed (p trend > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher levels of total n-3 PUFAs, EPA, DPA, and DHA, but not of ALA, in erythrocyte membranes are associated with a lower presence of metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults.
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.|Nanshan Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518052, People's Republic of China.
Xiao-Wei
XW
Dai
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China. chenyum@mail.sysu.edu.cn.|Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China. chenyum@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Yu-Ming
YM
Chen
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.
Fang-Fang
FF
Zeng
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.
Li-Li
LL
Sun
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.
Cao-Gang
CG
Chen
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China. suyx@mail.sysu.edu.cn.|Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China. suyx@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Yi-Xiang
YX
Su
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015444:Exercise; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014280:Triglycerides; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C026219:docosapentaenoic acid
Chinese adults; Erythrocyte; Metabolic syndrome; n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids