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Prevention of Non Communicable Diseases

Associations of plasma omega-3 and omega-6 pufa levels with arterial elasticity: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 76, pages 1770–1775 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Literature examining the relationship of circulating omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids [n-3(ω-3) and n-6 (ω-6) PUFAs] and arterial elasticity in large cohort-based populations are lacking. We investigated the association of circulating ω-3and ω-6 PUFAs with large artery elasticity (LAE) and small artery elasticity (SAE) in participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Methods

A total of 6124 participants (mean age 61.9; 52% female; 38% White, 27% Black, 22% Hispanic, and 13% Chinese-American) with plasma phospholipid PUFAs and arterial elasticity measured at baseline were included. LAE and SAE were derived from pulse contour analysis of the radial artery in all subjects in a supine position using tonometry. Linear regression models were used to determine associations for levels of (1) each circulating fatty acid, (2) total ω-3PUFAs, and (3) total ω-6 PUFAs with log-transformed LAE and SAE.

Results

Each standard deviation (SD) increment in circulating levels of total ω-3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid were associated with a 0.017 ml/mmHg, 0.017 ml/mmHg, and 0.015 ml/mmHg higher LAE respectively (p values all <0.01). No significant trends were observed for ω-3 PUFAs levels with SAE.22 Similarly, no significant trends were observed for ω-6 PUFA levels with either LAE or SAE.

Conclusions

In a multi-ethnic cohort of individuals free of baseline cardiovascular disease, higher plasma levels of total and individual ω-3 PUFAs were associated with an increased LAE. Further understanding into differential associations of ω-6 PUFAs with LAE and SAE is needed.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from MESA but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of MESA.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff and participants of the MESA study for their important contributions.

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 and by grant R01-HL-127659 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. Division of Cardiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Parveen K. Garg

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

    Weihua Guan

  3. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Sarah Nomura, Natalie L. Weir, Amy B. Karger & Michael Y. Tsai

  4. Division of Cardiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Daniel Duprez

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Contributions

PG, WG, and MT contributed to the conception or design of the work. All contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work. PG and WG drafted the manuscript. All critically revised the manuscript, gave final approval, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring integrity and accuracy.

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Correspondence to Parveen K. Garg.

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Garg, P.K., Guan, W., Nomura, S. et al. Associations of plasma omega-3 and omega-6 pufa levels with arterial elasticity: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 1770–1775 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01172-9

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