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Epidemiology

Plasma linoleic acid levels and cardiovascular risk factors: results from the Norwegian ACE 1950 Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 1707–1717 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

A high intake of linoleic acid (LA), the major dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), has previously been associated with reduced cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in observational studies. However, recent secondary analyses from clinical trials of LA-rich diet suggest harmful effects of LA on CV health.

Methods

A total of 3706 participants, all born in 1950, were included in this cross-sectional study. We investigated associations between plasma phospholipid levels of LA and CV risk factors in a Norwegian general population, characterized by a relative low LA and high marine n-3 PUFA intake. The main statistical approach was multivariable linear regression.

Results

Plasma phospholipid LA levels ranged from 11.4 to 32.0 wt%, with a median level of 20.8 wt% (interquartile range 16.8–24.8 wt%). High plasma LA levels were associated with lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (standardized regression coefficient [Std. β-coeff.] −0.04, p = 0.02), serum triglycerides (Std. β-coeff. −0.10, p < 0.001), fasting plasma glucose (Std. β-coeff. −0.10, p < 0.001), body mass index (Std. β-coeff. −0.13, p < 0.001), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Std. β-coeff. −0.04, p = 0.03 and Std. β-coeff. −0.02, p = 0.02, respectively) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (Std. β-coeff. −0.09, p < 0.001). We found no association between plasma LA levels and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, glycated hemoglobin, carotid intima-media thickness, or C-reactive protein.

Conclusion

High plasma LA levels were favorably associated with several CV risk factors in this study of a Norwegian general population.

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Fig. 1: Patient inclusion.
Fig. 2: Plasma linoleic acid levels and CV risk factors.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the skilled study staff at the Clinical Trial Unit, Division of Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, and the Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust. We also thank the staff at The Lipid Research Laboratory, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark, who performed the fatty acid analyses. Finally, we would like to thank the study participants.

Funding

The ACE (Akershus Cardiac Examination) 1950 Study is funded by two health trusts (Akershus University Hospital HF and Vestre Viken HF), and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, the University of Oslo, and the Norwegian Health Association. AC was supported by public funding grants from Akershus University Hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Renal Medicine, Division of Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway

    Anupam Chandra, My Svensson & Ivar Anders Eide

  2. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Anupam Chandra, Helge Røsjø, My Svensson, Thea Vigen, Ole Morten Rønning, Magnus Nakrem Lyngbakken, Torbjørn Omland & Arnljot Tveit

  3. Division of Research and Innovation, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway

    Helge Røsjø

  4. Division of Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway

    Thea Vigen, Eivind Bjørkan Orstad, Ole Morten Rønning, Magnus Nakrem Lyngbakken & Torbjørn Omland

  5. Department of Medical Research, Bærum Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway

    Håkon Ihle-Hansen, Trygve Berge & Arnljot Tveit

  6. Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Ståle Nygård

  7. Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Ståle Nygård

  8. Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

    Erik Berg Schmidt

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Contributions

AC, IAE, and MS designed the present study. HR, TO, MNL, TB, and AT designed and organized the ACE 1950 Study including baseline examinations and data collection. TV, HI-H, EBO, and OMR performed carotid ultrasound and baseline examinations. EBS was responsible for the fatty acid analyses. AC, IAE, and SN analyzed the data. AC, IAE, and MS edited the paper, EBS, TO, HR, TV, HI-H, SN, EBO, OMR, MNL, TB, and AT co-edited the paper. All the authors approved the final version of the paper. AC submitted the paper.

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Correspondence to Anupam Chandra.

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Chandra, A., Røsjø, H., Svensson, M. et al. Plasma linoleic acid levels and cardiovascular risk factors: results from the Norwegian ACE 1950 Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 1707–1717 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0641-4

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