Positive Health Online

Abstract

MOTOYAMA and COLLEAGUES, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. kayrei@gmail.com examined the association of serum n-6 (omega-6) or n-3 (omega-3) PUFAs with triglycerides or HDL-cholesterol concentrations in 261 white, 285 Japanese, and 212 Japanese American men aged 40-49 y.

Background

The association of serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with lipids in different populations is not known. The authors' aim was to examine the association of serum n-6 (omega-6) or n-3 (omega-3) PUFAs with triglycerides or HDL-cholesterol concentrations in 261 white, 285 Japanese, and 212 Japanese American men aged 40-49 y.

Methodology

The authors used a population-based cross-sectional study. Of the original sample (n = 926), those taking lipid-lowering medications or who had diabetes (n = 168) were excluded. Serum fatty acids were analyzed by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Multiple regression models as a function of tertile groups of each PUFA were used.

Results

Serum n-6 PUFAs were significantly inversely associated with triglycerides across populations after adjustment for age, body mass index, pack-years of smoking, and ethanol consumption [beta = -0.39 (P < 0.001), -0.38 (P < 0.001), and -0.33 (P < 0.001) in whites, Japanese, and Japanese Americans, respectively]. Marine n-3 PUFAs were significantly inversely associated with triglycerides across populations [beta = -0.15 (P < 0.001), -0.22 (P < 0.001), and -0.13 (P < 0.001) in whites, Japanese, and Japanese Americans, respectively]. n-6 PUFAs were significantly positively associated with HDL cholesterol in whites (beta = 4.49, P < 0.001) and Japanese (beta = 3.73, P < 0.01). Marine n-3 PUFAs were significantly positively associated with HDL cholesterol in Japanese (beta = 2.15, P < 0.05), and eicosapentaenoic acid was significantly positively associated with HDL cholesterol in whites (beta = 2.68, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Serum n-6 and n-3 PUFAs are inversely associated with triglycerides across populations.

References

Sutton-Tyrrell K, Rodriquez BL, Kadota A, Edmundowicz D, Willcox BJ, Choo J, Katsumi N, Otake T, Kadowaki S, Kuller LH, Ueshima H and Sekikawa A. Association of serum n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with lipids in 3 populations of middle-aged men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 90(1):49-55. Jul 2009. Source: NLM. PMC2696994 [Available on 07/01/10]