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Lipids and cardiovascular/metabolic health

Associations of serum n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids with echocardiographic measures among older adults: the Hoorn Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 67, pages 1277–1283 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:

Lower circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may induce loss of heart function. We investigated whether lower concentrations of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs were associated with less favourable echocardiographic measures and higher heart rate in older Caucasians, cross-sectionally and after 7 years of follow-up.

SUBJECTS/METHODS:

We used data from the Hoorn Study, a population-based cohort. Cross-sectional data were available for 621 participants and longitudinal data for 336 participants. Mean age was 68.6±6.8 years at baseline. We performed linear regression analyses using n-3 and n-6 PUFAs quartiles—assayed by gas liquid chromatography—with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular mass index, left atrial volume index and heart rate.

RESULTS:

In multivariable analyses (regression coefficient (95% confidence interval)), the lowest eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid quartiles compared with the highest quartiles were cross-sectionally associated with lower LVEF. Lower eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations were associated with higher heart rate: 3.7 b.p.m. (1.5, 6.0; P for trend <0.001) and 3.4 b.p.m. (1.2, 5.6; P for trend 0.001), respectively. Multivariate longitudinal analyses showed a significant trend across quartiles for alpha-linolenic acid in relation to LVEF. The lowest linoleic acid quartile was significantly associated with a decreased LVEF of −4.0% compared with the highest quartile.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study found no strong evidence of longitudinal associations of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid with echocardiographic measures, however, lower concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid were associated with decreased LVEF. These results provide evidence for a potential protective role of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid in relation to systolic function.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the study participants and the Hoorn Study group staff for their contribution. This work was supported by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Research Council of Norway and The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, EMGO+ Institute, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    I Reinders, A J van Ballegooijen, M Visser & I A Brouwer

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO+ Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    M Visser & J M Dekker

  3. Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    A K Elshorbagy & H Refsum

  4. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

    A K Elshorbagy

  5. Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    H Refsum

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    R M A Henry & C D A Stehouwer

  7. Department of General Practice, EMGO+ Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    G Nijpels

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Reinders, I., van Ballegooijen, A., Visser, M. et al. Associations of serum n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids with echocardiographic measures among older adults: the Hoorn Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 67, 1277–1283 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.167

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