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Epidemiology

Plasma omega-3 and saturated fatty acids are differentially related to pericardial adipose tissue volume across race/ethnicity: the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 75, pages 1237–1244 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) is a cardiometabolic risk factor influenced by race/ethnicity, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) and saturated FAs (SFAs) are known to affect these latter phenomena and may influence PAT accumulation. We aimed to determine whether plasma levels of these FAs are related to PAT volume and its rate of change over a median 3-year follow-up.

Methods

Cardiac computed tomography assessed PAT in 6785 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants. Gas chromatography flame-ionization estimated plasma phospholipid FAs. Regression analyses estimated associations of FAs with PAT volume and its rate of change with adjustments for other risk factors. Race-interactions were tested.

Results

In cross-section, top tertiles of omega-3 FAs and odd-chained SFAs were associated with 2.8 and 4.93 cm3 lower PAT volumes, respectively; race/ethnicity was a significant modifying variable (p < 0.002). Even-chained SFAs were associated with 3.5 cm3 greater PAT volume. With stratification by race/ethnicity, Chinese Americans in the top tertile of omega-3 FAs showed 10.5 cm3 greater PAT volume than those in the referent tertile. Black individuals in the top tertile of odd-chained SFAs showed 5.0 cm3 lower PAT compared to referents. Black and Chinese Americans in top tertiles of even-chained SFAs showed respective 3.7 and 5.9 cm3 greater PAT volumes compared to referents. Two associations were observed in prospective analyses among Caucasians; race interactions were non-significant.

Conclusions

Cross-sectional and prospective findings provide inconclusive evidence as to whether plasma FAs are related to PAT in healthy individuals. Cohort studies with longer follow-up periods are warranted.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the other investigators, the staff, and the participants of the MESA study for their valuable contributions. A full list of participating MESA investigators and institutions can be found at http://www.mesa-nhlbi.org.

Funding

This research was supported by contracts HHSN268201500003I, N01-HC-95159, N01-HC-95160, N01-HC-95161, N01-HC-95162, N01-HC-95163, N01-HC-95164, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC-95168 and N01-HC-95169 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and by grants UL1-TR-000040, UL1-TR-001079, and UL1-TR-001420 from NCATS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Brian T. Steffen, Sarah O. Nomura, Natalie L. Weir & Michael Y. Tsai

  2. Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Weihua Guan

  3. Department of Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Jingzhong Ding

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  1. Brian T. Steffen
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Correspondence to Michael Y. Tsai.

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Steffen, B.T., Guan, W., Ding, J. et al. Plasma omega-3 and saturated fatty acids are differentially related to pericardial adipose tissue volume across race/ethnicity: the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Eur J Clin Nutr 75, 1237–1244 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-00833-x

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