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Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and healthy ageing

Abstract

 

Objective 

To determine the longitudinal association between serial biomarker measures of circulating omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n3-PUFA) levels and healthy ageing.

Design 

Prospective cohort study.

Setting 

Four communities in the United States (Cardiovascular Health Study) from 1992 to 2015.

Participants 

2622 adults with a mean (SD) age of 74.4 (4.8) and with successful healthy ageing at baseline in 1992-93.

Exposure 

Cumulative levels of plasma phospholipid n3-PUFAs were measured using gas chromatography in 1992-93, 1998-99, and 2005-06, expressed as percentage of total fatty acids, including α-linolenic acid (ALA) from plants and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from seafoood.

Main outcome measure 

Healthy ageing defined as survival without chronic diseases (ie, cardiovascular disease, cancer, lung disease, and severe chronic kidney disease), the absence of cognitive and physical dysfunction, or death from other causes not part of the healthy ageing outcome after age 65. Events were centrally adjudicated or determined from medical records and diagnostic tests.

Results 

Higher levels of long chain n3-PUFAs were associated with an 18% lower risk (95% confidence interval 7% to 28%) of unhealthy ageing per interquintile range after multivariable adjustments with time-varying exposure and covariates. Individually, higher eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) (but not docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) levels were associated with a lower risk: 15% (6% to 23%) and 16% (6% to 25%), respectively. α-linolenic acid (ALA) from plants was not noticeably associated with unhealthy ageing (hazard ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 1.02).

Conclusions 

In older adults, a higher cumulative level of serially measured circulating n3-PUFAs from seafood (EPA, DPA, and DHA), EPA, and DPA (but not DHA from seafood or ALA from plants) was associated with a higher likelihood of healthy ageing. These findings support guidelines for increased dietary consumption of n3-PUFAs in older adults.

 

Lai Heidi TM, de Oliveira Otto Marcia C, Lemaitre Rozenn N, McKnight Barbara, Song Xiaoling, King Irena B et al. Serial circulating omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and healthy ageing among older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study: prospective cohort study BMJ 2018; 363 :k4067

https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k4067