title: Plasma fatty acid biomarkers are associated with gait speed in community-dwelling older adults: The Three-City-Bordeaux study.
abstract: Nutritional factors, such as fatty acids (FA), could modulate physical performance in the elderly. In particular, the opposite properties of long-chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated FAs (LC PUFAs) could impact muscle function. We aimed to assess the cross-sectional association between plasma FAs and gait speed in French elderly community-dwellers.
  
  
  
  Elderly participants from the Bordeaux centre of the Three-City Study were included. The proportion of 12 FAs, and gait speed (m/s) were measured concomitantly at enrollment. Low gait speed (LGS) was defined as below the first quartile of gait speed. FA patterns were derived from the 12 individual FAs using principal component analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used and odds-ratios (OR) were expressed per one additional standard-deviation unit of each plasma FA or per one additional unit of pattern score.
  
  
  
  Among 982 participants, 239 (24.3%) had a low gait speed (<0.63 m/s) at baseline. Regarding individually each FA, a higher proportion of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were associated with lower odds of LGS (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63-0.93 and OR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.67-0.95 respectively). Conversely, a higher arachidonic acid (AA):(EPA + DHA) ratio was associated with higher odds of LGS. Three main FA patterns were identified. A higher score on the FA pattern characterized by higher proportions of LC n-3 PUFAs was associated with lower odds of LGS (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.67-0.90).
  
  
  
  A FA pattern mainly driven by high plasma concentrations of LC n-3 PUFAs is cross-sectionally associated with higher gait speed in community-dwelling older adults, while a higher AA:(EPA + DHA) ratio is associated with lower gait speed. These findings suggest a potential protective effect of n-3 PUFA on physical performance decline.
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-63000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-63000 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frison
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1019, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Clermont University, University of Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clinical Nutrition Department, F-63003 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Boirie
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U876, F-33076 Bordeaux, France; CHU de Bordeaux, Hôpital Saint-André, Service de Biochimie, F-33075 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peuchant
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-63000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-63000 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Maturin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabue-Teguo
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-63000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-63000 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barberger-Gateau
authors.affiliation: Univ. Bordeaux, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-63000 Bordeaux, France; INSERM, ISPED, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, F-63000 Bordeaux, France. Electronic address: catherine.Feart@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Féart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000072797:Walking Speed
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: Community-dwelling elderly; Fatty acids; Gait speed; Nutritional epidemiology; Principal component analysis