Oily fish consumption is inversely correlated with cerebral microbleeds in community-dwelling older adults: results from the Atahualpa Project.
BACKGROUND
Oily fish is a major dietary source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs). These nutrients improve endothelial dysfunction, reduce β-amyloid induced damage of neurovascular units, and might prevent the occurrence of cerebral microbleeds. However, this relationship has not been investigated so far.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between oily fish intake and cerebral microbleeds in a population of frequent fish consumers living in coastal Ecuador.


METHODS
Cerebral microbleeds were identified by gradient-echo MRI and oily fish consumption was calculated in community-dwellers aged ≥60 years enrolled in the Atahualpa Project. The association between cerebral microbleeds and fish servings was examined in regression models adjusted for relevant confounders. A predictive model was constructed using quintiles of fish servings to take into account the non-linearity in the relationship.


RESULTS
Out of 311 eligible individuals, 293 (94 %) were enrolled. Cerebral microbleeds were recognized in 37 (13 %) individuals. Mean fish consumption was 8.8 ± 5.4 servings per week (ω-3 PUFAs estimates: 10.2 ± 7.1 g). Multivariate analysis showed an inverse relationship between cerebral microbleeds and fish consumption (p < 0.001). Predictive margins of CMB were higher for individuals in the lowest (≤4.3) than for those in the highest (≥13.1) quintile of fish servings (17.4 vs 2.3 %, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a lower cerebral microbleed presence among older adults eating large amounts of oily fish (13 servings per week, equivalent to about 15 g of ω-3 PUFAs). These high requirements can be more readily accomplished in other populations by taking fish oil preparations. Longitudinal studies are warranted to assess whether these interventions reduce incident cerebral microbleeds in high-risk individuals.
School of Medicine, Universidad Espíritu Santo-Ecuador, Guayaquil, Ecuador. oscardelbrutto@hotmail.com.|Department of Neurological Sciences, Hospital-Clínica Kennedy, Guayaquil, Ecuador. oscardelbrutto@hotmail.com.|, Air Center 3542, PO Box 522970, Miami, FL, 33152-2970, USA. oscardelbrutto@hotmail.com.
Oscar H
OH
Del Brutto
Medical Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Robertino M
RM
Mera
Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
Jung-Eun
JE
Ha
Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Victor J
VJ
Del Brutto
Sleep Disorders Center, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
Pablo R
PR
Castillo
Community Center, The Atahualpa Project, Atahualpa, Ecuador.
Mauricio
M
Zambrano
Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
Jennifer
J
Gillman
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017747:Seafood
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Cerebral microbleeds; Ecuador; Oily fish; Omega-3; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Population-based study