title: Higher Plasma Phospholipid n-3 PUFAs, but Lower n-6 PUFAs, Are Associated with Lower Pulse Wave Velocity among Older Adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and higher circulating PUFAs are associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The positive influence of PUFAs might be via lowering arterial stiffness, resulting in a better CVD risk profile; however, studies investigating circulating PUFAs in relation to arterial stiffness in a general population are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the associations of plasma phospholipid n-3 (ω-3) and n-6 PUFAs and fish oil intake with arterial stiffness.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from a subgroup of the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik (AGES-Reykjavik) Study (n = 501, 75.0 ± 4.96 y, 46% men), a population-based study of community-dwelling older adults. Plasma phospholipid PUFAs were measured by GC at baseline, and fish oil intake was assessed at 3 time points: early life (ages 14-19 y), midlife (ages 40-50 y), and late life (ages 66-96 y, AGES-Reykjavik baseline) with the use of a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Arterial stiffness was determined as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) with the use of an electrocardiogram after a mean follow-up of 5.2 ± 0.3 y. Regression coefficients (95% CIs), adjusted for demographics, follow-up time, risk factors, cholesterol, triglycerides, and serum vitamin D, were calculated by linear regression per SD increment in PUFAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma total n-3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid were associated with lower cf-PWV [β (95% CI): -0.036 (-0.064, -0.008); -0.031 (-0.059, -0.003); -0.036 (-0.064, -0.009), respectively]. In contrast, plasma total n-6 PUFAs and linoleic acid were associated with higher cf-PWV [0.035 (0.009, 0.061) and 0.034 (0.008, 0.059)]. Regular fish oil consumption at early-, mid-, and late-life was not associated with cf-PWV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show a positive association between plasma n-6 PUFAs and arterial stiffness, and suggest that higher concentrations of plasma long-chain n-3 PUFAs are associated with less arterial stiffness and therein may be one of the mechanisms underlying the association between plasma n-3 PUFAs and lower CVD risk.
authors: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD; Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; ilse.reinders@vu.nl.
authors: Ilse
authors: I
authors: Reinders
authors: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD;
authors: Rachel A
authors: RA
authors: Murphy
authors: Division of Public Health Sciences, Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA;
authors: Xiaoling
authors: X
authors: Song
authors: Cardiovascular Engineering, Inc., Norwood, MA;
authors: Gary F
authors: GF
authors: Mitchell
authors: Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands;
authors: Marjolein
authors: M
authors: Visser
authors: Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD;
authors: Mary Frances
authors: MF
authors: Cotch
authors: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD;
authors: Melissa E
authors: ME
authors: Garcia
authors: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD;
authors: Lenore J
authors: LJ
authors: Launer
authors: Icelandic Heart Association Research Institute, Kopavogur, Iceland; and.
authors: Gudny
authors: G
authors: Eiriksdottir
authors: Icelandic Heart Association Research Institute, Kopavogur, Iceland; and Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors: Vilmundur
authors: V
authors: Gudnason
authors: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD;
authors: Tamara B
authors: TB
authors: Harris
authors: Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands;
authors: Ingeborg A
authors: IA
authors: Brouwer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D058620:Elder Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005395:Fish Oils; D010743:Phospholipids
keywords: aging; arterial stiffness; epidemiology; fish oil; polyunsaturated fatty acids; pulse wave velocity