title: The proportion of total C18:1 trans-fatty acids in red blood cell membranes relates to carotid plaque prevalence.
abstract: Consistent evidence supports the pro-atherogenic properties of dietary trans-fatty acids (TFAs). However, there are no clinical data on TFA intake and atheroma plaque. We cross sectionally investigated whether the proportion of total C18:1 TFA in red blood cells (RBCs), which mirrors dietary TFA intake, independently relates to carotid plaque prevalence in subjects with new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus without prior cardiovascular disease (n=101, 56% men, mean age 61 years) and age- and sex-matched controls (n=96). RBC fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography. Plaque (defined as carotid intima-media thickness ≥1.5 mm) was sonographically assessed at three bilateral carotid segments. In multivariate models adjusting for group (diabetes or control) and classical cardiovascular risk factors, for each 0.1% increase in RBC total C18:1 TFA isomers, plaque prevalence increased by 53% (P=.002). In contrast, for each 0.1% increase in RBC alpha-linolenic acid, the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid, plaque prevalence decreased by 43% (P<.001). We conclude that the RBC membrane proportion of total C18:1 TFA, considered a proxy of intake, directly relates to the ultrasound feature that best predicts future cardiovascular events. Our findings support current recommendations to limit TFA intake for cardiovascular health promotion.
authors.affiliation: Consorci d'Atenció Primària de Salut Eixample (CAPSE), Grup Transversal de Recerca en Atenció Primària, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Herreras
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Lipid Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cofán
authors.affiliation: Consorci d'Atenció Primària de Salut Eixample (CAPSE), Grup Transversal de Recerca en Atenció Primària, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catalan
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Lipid Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Consorci d'Atenció Primària de Salut Eixample (CAPSE), Grup Transversal de Recerca en Atenció Primària, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinyol
authors.affiliation: Lipid Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Amor
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilabert
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Lipid Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Lipid Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: asala@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Aleix
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sala-Vila
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Lipid Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D009829:Oleic Acids; D044242:Trans Fatty Acids
keywords: Alpha-linolenic acid; Atheroma; Biomarkers; Diet; trans-Fat