Positive Health Online

Abstract

LINDHOLT and COLLEAGUES, 1 Elitary Research Centre of Individualized Medicine in Arterial Disease (CIMA), Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; 2 Vascular Research Lab., FIIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Autónoma University, Madrid, Spain; 3 CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; 4 Lipid Clinic, Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain; 5 CIBERCV, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain jlmartin@fjd.es investigated the association between the omega-3 index and the prevalence and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and associations between AAA and arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid which is a substrate for proinflammatory lipid mediators.

Background

Animal models support dietary omega-3 fatty acids protection against abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but clinical data are scarce. The sum of red blood cell proportions of the omega-3 eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, known as omega-3 index, is a valid surrogate for long-term omega-3 intake. We investigated the association between the omega-3 index and the prevalence and progression of AAA. We also investigated associations between AAA and arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that is a substrate for proinflammatory lipid mediators.

Methodology

We obtained blood samples from 498 AAA patients (maximal aortic diameter ≥30 mm) within a population-based ultrasound-screening trial in men and from 199 age-matched controls who screened negative. We determined the fatty acids of red blood cells by gas chromatography. During a median follow-up of 4.85 years, 141 AAA patients reached criteria for vascular surgical repair. Participants were high consumers of omega-3 (average omega-3 index: 7.6%).

Results

No significant associations were found for omega-3 index. In contrast, arachidonic acid in AAA patients was higher than in controls (P<0.001), and individuals in the upper tertile of arachidonic acid at baseline had higher probability of having AAA (odds ratio: 1.309; 95% confidence interval, 1.021-1.678; P=0.033). AAA patients at the upper tertile of arachidonic acid at baseline had a 54% higher risk of needing surgical repair during follow-up (hazard ratio: 1.544; 95% confidence interval, 1.127-2.114; P=0.007).

Conclusion

Omega-3 index is unrelated to men with AAA from a country in which fish consumption is customarily high. Arachidonic acid is associated with AAA presence and progression. Clinical trial registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT00662480.

References

Jes S Lindholt  1 , Katrine L Kristensen  1 , Elena Burillo  2 , Diego Martinez-Lopez  2 , Carlos Calvo  3   4 , Emilio Ros  3   4 , Jose L Martín-Ventura  5   2 , Aleix Sala-Vila  3   4. Arachidonic Acid, but Not Omega-3 Index, Relates to the Prevalence and Progression of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in a Population-Based Study of Danish Men. J Am Heart Assoc.  ;7(3):e007790. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.117.007790. Jan 26 2018.