Very Long Chain N-3 Fatty Acids Intake and Carotid Atherosclerosis: An Epidemiological Study Evaluated by Ultrasonography

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
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FROM:   Atherosclerosis 2004 (Sep);   176 (1):   145–149

Hino A, Adachi H, Toyomasu K, Yoshida N, Enomoto M, Hiratsuka A, Hirai Y, Satoh A, Imaizumi T

The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan


Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between intake of N-3 fatty acids and incidence of stroke. And, there is a high incidence of stroke in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. We investigated the relationship between intake of N-3 fatty acids and carotid atherosclerosis in the cross-sectional study. A total of 1920 Japanese, aged over 40 years, received a population-based health examination in 1999. They underwent B-mode carotid ultrasonography to evaluate the carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT). Eating patterns were evaluated by a 105 items food frequency questionnaire. A complete data set was available for 1902 subjects (785 men and 1117 women). The mean eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) intake in men was 0.32+/-0.23 g/day and in women was 0.31+/-0.20 g/day. The mean docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake in men was 0.52+/-0.34 g/day and in women was 0.49+/-0.29 g/day. With multiple linear regression analysis, after adjustments for age, sex, and total energy intake, intakes of EPA (P < 0.05), DHA (P < 0.05), and docosapentaenoic acid (P < 0.05) were significantly and inversely related to IMT. These data indicate that dietary N-3 fatty acid, especially very long chain N-3 fatty acids, may protect against carotid atherosclerosis.

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