title: Association between omega-3 index and blood lipids in older Australians.
abstract: Management of hyperlipidaemia remains a cornerstone therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) has been shown to modulate blood lipid profiles and reduce the risk of developing CVD. However, studies relating objective measures of long-term dietary n-3 PUFA intake and circulating lipid levels in older adults are limited. Thus, we aimed to determine whether there is an association between erythrocyte n-3 PUFA status (omega-3 index, O3I) and blood lipid profiles in older adults. A sample of adults aged 65-95 years who participated in the Retirement Health and Lifestyle Study was evaluated. Outcome measures included O3I (% eicosapentaenoic acid+% docosahexaenoic acid) and fasting blood lipid profiles [total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and triglyceride (TG)]. Two hundred and seventy-six subjects were included in the analyses. The mean±SD age was 77.6±7.4 years, and 40.9% were males. O3I was significantly higher in females compared to males. O3I was inversely associated with plasma TG (P<.001) and TC/HDL-cholesterol ratio (P<.05), and positively associated with HDL-cholesterol (P<.05), in all subjects. Associations between O3I and TG were evident in both females (r=-0.250, P<.01) and males (r=-0.225, P<.05). In females only, the odds of being hypertriglyceridaemic were highest in those with lowest O3I (P=.006). Trends for hypercholesterolaemia and elevated LDL risk were converse between males and females. Long-term n-3 PUFA status is associated with blood lipid profiles in older Australians. Our findings support the development and implementation of age-specific dietary strategies to reduce the risk of CVD via improving the O3I.
authors.affiliation: Nutraceuticals Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, 305C Medical Science Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica J A
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Research Teaching Unit, Gosford Hospital, Cnr Henry Parry Drive and Margin Street, Gosford, NSW, 2250, Australia. Electronic address: martin.veysey@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veysey
authors.affiliation: Human Molecular Nutrition Laboratory, School of Environmental & Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Brush Road, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia. Electronic address: mark.lucock@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucock
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Research Teaching Unit, Gosford Hospital, Cnr Henry Parry Drive and Margin Street, Gosford, NSW, 2250, Australia. Electronic address: suzanne.niblett@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niblett
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Research Teaching Unit, Gosford Hospital, Cnr Henry Parry Drive and Margin Street, Gosford, NSW, 2250, Australia. Electronic address: katrina.king.au@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Electronic address: Lesley-wicks@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacDonald-Wicks
authors.affiliation: Nutraceuticals Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, 305C Medical Science Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. Electronic address: manohar.garg@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Manohar L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D008055:Lipids
keywords: Cholesterol; Hyperlipidemia; Lipids; Older adults; Omega 3 index; n-3 PUFA