Association between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content of red blood cells and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are dietary components derived from fish oil with beneficial cardiovascular effects that may relate in part to anti-inflammatory properties. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is characterized by a marked proinflammatory state. We hypothesized that the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content of red blood cells (omega-3 index) would be correlated with biomarkers of inflammation and vascular function in a PAD cohort.

METHODS:

This was a cross-sectional study of subjects who presented to an outpatient vascular surgery clinic for evaluation of PAD. We used linear regression to evaluate the independent association between the omega-3 index, inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein [CRP], intercellular adhesion molecule-1, interleukin-6, and tumor-necrosis-factor-α) and endothelial function (brachial artery flow mediated dilation).

RESULTS:

64 subjects (61 claudicants and three with critical limb ischemia) were recruited for the study. The mean CRP level was 5.0 ± 5.0 mg/L, and the mean omega-3 index was 5.0% ± 1.8%. In an unadjusted model, the omega-3 index was negatively associated with CRP (38% increase in CRP for one standard deviation decrease in the omega-3 index; P = .007), which remained significant after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, ankle-brachial index, and high-density lipoprotein (33%; P = .04). There was also evidence for independent associations between the omega-3 index and IL-6 (P = .001). There were no significant associations between the omega-3 index and vascular function tests.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a cohort of patients with PAD, the omega-3 index was inversely associated with biomarkers of inflammation even after adjustment for covariates including the ankle-brachial index. Because patients with PAD have a high inflammatory burden, further studies should be conducted to determine if manipulation of omega-3 index via dietary changes or fish oil supplementation could improve inflammation and symptoms in these patients.

• Authors: S Marlene Grenon, Michael S Conte, Emily Nosova, Hugh Alley, Karen Chong, William S Harris, Eric Vittinghoff, Christopher D Owens
• Journal: Journal of vascular surgery (J Vasc Surg) Vol. 58 Issue 5 Pg. 1283-90 (Nov 2013) ISSN: 1097-6809 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23830313 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Published by Mosby, Inc.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Inflammation Mediators
• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• Aged
• Ankle Brachial Index
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Brachial Artery (metabolism, physiopathology)
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Endothelium, Vascular (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Erythrocytes (chemistry)
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (blood)
• Humans
• Inflammation Mediators (blood)
• Linear Models
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Peripheral Arterial Disease (blood, diagnosis, immunology, physiopathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Prognosis
• Vasodilation