@article {797, title = {Fish intake and risk of incident atrial fibrillation.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {110}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Jul 27}, pages = {368-73}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and is particularly common in the elderly. Although effects of fish intake, including potential antiarrhythmic effects, may favorably influence risk of AF, relationships between fish intake and AF incidence have not been evaluated.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective, population-based cohort of 4815 adults > or =age 65 years, usual dietary intake was assessed at baseline in 1989 and 1990. Consumption of tuna and other broiled or baked fish correlated with plasma phospholipid long-chain n-3 fatty acids, whereas consumption of fried fish or fish sandwiches (fish burgers) did not. AF incidence was prospectively ascertained on the basis of hospital discharge records and annual electrocardiograms. During 12 years{\textquoteright} follow-up, 980 cases of incident AF were diagnosed. In multivariate analyses, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish was inversely associated with incidence of AF, with 28\% lower risk with intake 1 to 4 times per week (HR=0.72, 95\% CI=0.58 to 0.91, P=0.005), and 31\% lower risk with intake > or =5 times per week (HR=0.69, 95\% CI=0.52 to 0.91, P=0.008), compared with <1 time per month (P trend=0.004). Results were not materially different after adjustment for preceding myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. In similar analyses, fried fish/fish sandwich consumption was not associated with lower risk of AF.

CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly adults, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish, but not fried fish or fish sandwiches, is associated with lower incidence of AF. Fish intake may influence risk of this common cardiac arrhythmia.

}, keywords = {Aged, Animals, Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiotonic Agents, Cohort Studies, Cooking, Diet, Dietary Fats, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Fish Oils, Fishes, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Massachusetts, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk, Seafood, Tuna}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/01.CIR.0000138154.00779.A5}, author = {Mozaffarian, Dariush and Psaty, Bruce M and Rimm, Eric B and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Burke, Gregory L and Lyles, Mary F and Lefkowitz, David and Siscovick, David S} } @article {1033, title = {Metabolic syndrome and mortality in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Arch Intern Med}, volume = {168}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 May 12}, pages = {969-78}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The utility of metabolic syndrome (MetS) for predicting mortality among older adults, the highest-risk population, is not well established. In addition, few studies have compared the predictive utility of MetS to that of its individual risk factors.

METHODS: We evaluated relationships of MetS (as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults [Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII)], International Diabetes Foundation [IDF], and World Health Organization [WHO]) and individual MetS criteria with mortality between 1989 and 2004 among 4258 US adults 65 years or older and free of prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a multicenter, population-based, prospective cohort. Total, CVD, and non-CVD mortality were evaluated. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the mortality hazard ratio (relative risk [RR]) predicted by MetS.

RESULTS: At baseline (mean age, 73 years), 31\% of men and 38\% of women had MetS (ATPIII). During 15 years of follow-up, 2116 deaths occurred. After multivariable adjustment, compared with persons without MetS, those with MetS had a 22\% higher mortality (RR, 1.22; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.34). Higher risk with MetS was confined to persons having elevated fasting glucose level (EFG) (defined as > or = 110 mg/dL [> or = 6.1 mmol/L] or treated diabetes mellitus) (RR, 1.41; 95\% CI, 1.27-1.57) or hypertension (RR, 1.26; 95\% CI, 1.15-1.39) as one of the criteria; persons having MetS without EFG (RR, 0.97; 95\% CI, 0.85-1.11) or MetS without hypertension (RR, 0.92; 95\% CI, 0.71-1.19) did not have higher risk. Evaluating MetS criteria individually, we found that only hypertension and EFG predicted higher mortality; persons having both hypertension and EFG had 82\% higher mortality (RR, 1.82; 95\% CI, 1.58-109). Substantially higher proportions of deaths were attributable to EFG and hypertension (population attributable risk fraction [PAR\%], 22.2\%) than to MetS (PAR\%, 6.3\%). Results were similar when we used WHO or IDF criteria, when we evaluated different cut points of each individual criterion, and when we evaluated CVD mortality.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest limited utility of MetS for predicting total or CVD mortality in older adults compared with assessment of fasting glucose and blood pressure alone.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood Glucose, Fasting, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Metabolic Syndrome, Multivariate Analysis, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, United States}, issn = {1538-3679}, doi = {10.1001/archinte.168.9.969}, author = {Mozaffarian, Dariush and Kamineni, Aruna and Prineas, Ronald J and Siscovick, David S} } @article {1207, title = {Diabetes and coronary heart disease as risk factors for mortality in older adults.}, journal = {Am J Med}, volume = {123}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Jun}, pages = {556.e1-9}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes has been described as a coronary heart disease (CHD) "risk equivalent." We tested whether cardiovascular and all-cause mortality rates were similar between participants with prevalent CHD vs diabetes in an older adult population in whom both glucose disorders and preexisting atherosclerosis are common.

METHODS: The Cardiovascular Health Study is a longitudinal study of men and women (n=5784) aged > or =65 years at baseline who were followed from baseline (1989/1992-1993) through 2005 for mortality. Diabetes was defined by fasting plasma glucose > or =7.0 mmol/L or use of diabetes control medications. Prevalent CHD was determined by confirmed history of myocardial infarction, angina, or coronary revascularization.

RESULTS: Following multivariable adjustment for other cardiovascular disease risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis, CHD mortality risk was similar between participants with CHD alone vs diabetes alone (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95\% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.30). The proportion of mortality attributable to prevalent diabetes (population-attributable risk percent=8.4\%) and prevalent CHD (6.7\%) was similar in women, but the proportion of mortality attributable to CHD (16.5\%) as compared with diabetes (6.4\%) was markedly higher in men. Patterns were similar for cardiovascular disease mortality. By contrast, the adjusted relative hazard of total mortality was lower among participants with CHD alone (HR 0.85, 95\% CI, 0.75-0.96) as compared with those who had diabetes alone.

CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults, diabetes alone confers a risk for cardiovascular mortality similar to that from established clinical CHD. The public health burden of both diabetes and CHD is substantial, particularly among women.

}, keywords = {Aged, Coronary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, Survival Rate, Time Factors, United States}, issn = {1555-7162}, doi = {10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.11.023}, author = {Carnethon, Mercedes R and Biggs, Mary L and Barzilay, Joshua and Kuller, Lewis H and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Mukamal, Kenneth and Smith, Nicholas L and Siscovick, David} } @article {1362, title = {Association of plasma phospholipid long-chain ω-3 fatty acids with incident atrial fibrillation in older adults: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {125}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Mar 06}, pages = {1084-93}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies suggest that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Prior studies evaluating fish or n-3 PUFA consumption from dietary questionnaires and incident AF have been conflicting. Circulating levels of n-3 PUFAs provide an objective measurement of exposure.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 3326 US men and women >=65 years of age and free of AF or heart failure at baseline, plasma phospholipid levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid were measured at baseline by use of standardized methods. Incident AF (789 cases) was identified prospectively from hospital discharge records and study visit ECGs during 31 169 person-years of follow-up (1992-2006). In multivariable Cox models adjusted for other risk factors, the relative risk in the top versus lowest quartile of total n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid+docosapentaenoic acid+docosahexaenoic acid) levels was 0.71 (95\% confidence interval, 0.57-0.89; P for trend=0.004) and of DHA levels was 0.77 (95\% confidence interval, 0.62-0.96; P for trend=0.01). Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid levels were not significantly associated with incident AF. Evaluated nonparametrically, both total n-3 PUFAs and docosahexaenoic acid showed graded and linear inverse associations with incidence of AF. Adjustment for intervening events such as heart failure or myocardial infarction during follow-up did not appreciably alter results.

CONCLUSIONS: In older adults, higher circulating total long-chain n-3 PUFA and docosahexaenoic acid levels were associated with lower risk of incident AF. These results highlight the need to evaluate whether increased dietary intake of these fatty acids could be effective for the primary prevention of AF.

}, keywords = {Aged, Atrial Fibrillation, Biomarkers, Dietary Fats, Docosahexaenoic Acids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Seafood}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.062653}, author = {Wu, Jason H Y and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and King, Irena B and Song, Xiaoling and Sacks, Frank M and Rimm, Eric B and Heckbert, Susan R and Siscovick, David S and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {1396, title = {Circulating and dietary α-linolenic acid and incidence of congestive heart failure in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Clin Nutr}, volume = {96}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Aug}, pages = {269-74}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the association between the n-3 fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA) and the incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF).

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether plasma phospholipid concentrations and estimated dietary consumption of ALA are associated with incident CHF.

DESIGN: We used data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective cohort study of cardiovascular diseases among adults aged >=65 y, from 4 US communities. A total of 2957 participants free of prevalent heart disease and with available fatty acid measurements were included in biomarker analyses (30,722 person-years and 686 incident CHF events). A total of 4432 participants free of prevalent heart disease were included in dietary analyses (52,609 person-years and 1072 events). We investigated the association of ALA with incident CHF by using Cox regression.

RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, race, education, smoking status, BMI, waist circumference, and alcohol consumption, plasma phospholipid ALA was not associated with incident CHF (HR for the highest compared with the lowest quartile: 0.97; 95\% CI: 0.79, 1.21; P-trend = 0.85). Likewise, dietary ALA was not associated with incident CHF (adjusted HR for the highest compared with the lowest quartile: 0.96; 95\% CI: 0.82, 1.20; P-trend = 0.97). We observed no association of biomarker or dietary ALA with nonvalvular CHF subtype. We also found little evidence of an association between ALA and CHF in subgroups based on age, sex, diabetes, fish consumption, BMI, or FADS2 genotype (rs1535).

CONCLUSION: ALA intake is not associated with incident CHF in older adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00005133.

}, keywords = {Aged, Alcohol Drinking, alpha-Linolenic Acid, Biomarkers, Body Mass Index, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diet, Fatty Acid Desaturases, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Heart Failure, Humans, Incidence, Male, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Smoking, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States}, issn = {1938-3207}, doi = {10.3945/ajcn.112.037960}, author = {Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Sitlani, Colleen and Song, Xiaoling and King, Irena B and McKnight, Barbara and Spiegelman, Donna and Sacks, Frank M and Djouss{\'e}, Luc and Rimm, Eric B and Siscovick, David S and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {1361, title = {Nonesterified fatty acids and risk of sudden cardiac death in older adults.}, journal = {Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol}, volume = {5}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Apr}, pages = {273-8}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Although nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) have been positively associated with coronary heart disease risk factors, limited and inconsistent data are available on the relation between NEFA and sudden cardiac death.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a prospective design, we studied 4657 older men and women (mean age, 75 years) from the Cardiovascular Health Study (1992-2006) to evaluate the association between plasma NEFA and the risk of sudden cardiac death in older adults. Plasma concentrations of NEFA were measured using established enzymatic methods, and sudden death was adjudicated using medical records, death certificates, proxy interview, and autopsy reports. We used Cox proportional hazard models to estimate multivariable-adjusted relative risks. During a median follow-up of 10.0 years, 221 new cases of sudden cardiac death occurred. In a multivariable model adjusting for age, sex, race, clinic site, alcohol intake, smoking, prevalent coronary heart disease and heart failure, and self-reported health status, relative risks (95\% confidence interval) for sudden cardiac death were 1.0 (ref), 1.15 (0.81-1.64), 1.06 (0.72-1.55), and 0.91 (0.60-1.38) across consecutive quartiles of NEFA concentration. In secondary analyses restricted to the first 5 years of follow-up, we also did not observe a statistically significant association between plasma NEFA and sudden cardiac death.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not provide evidence for an association between plasma NEFA measured late in life and the risk of sudden cardiac death in older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Death, Sudden, Cardiac, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors}, issn = {1941-3084}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCEP.111.967661}, author = {Djouss{\'e}, Luc and Biggs, Mary L and Ix, Joachim H and Kizer, Jorge R and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Sotoodehnia, Nona and Zieman, Susan J and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Tracy, Russell P and Mukamal, Kenneth J and Siscovick, David S} } @article {1410, title = {Novel circulating fatty acid patterns and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Clin Nutr}, volume = {96}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Dec}, pages = {1252-61}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Complex interplays of diet and metabolism influence circulating fatty acids (FAs), possibly constituting FA patterns related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to derive FA patterns from circulating FAs, relate the patterns to CVD incidence, and extend the derived patterns to atherosclerosis progression in another independent cohort.

DESIGN: We used principal component analysis (PCA) to derive FA patterns from 38 plasma phospholipid FAs in 2972 older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Identified patterns were evaluated for prospective associations with 14-y incidence of CVD [ischemic heart disease (IHD) or stroke]. In another independent cohort of postmenopausal women with IHD, we evaluated associations of the CHS-derived patterns with 3.2-y progression of angiographically defined coronary atherosclerosis.

RESULTS: Three distinct patterns were identified, characterized by higher proportions of trans FAs, de novo lipogenesis (DNL) FAs, and long-chain MUFAs (LCMUFAs). During 32,265 person-years, 780 incident CVD events occurred. The trans FA pattern was associated with higher CVD risk (multivariable-adjusted HR for the highest compared with the lowest quintiles = 1.58; 95\% CI: 1.17, 2.12; P-trend = 0.006), primarily attributable to higher risk of stroke (HR: 2.46; 95\% CI: 1.54, 3.92; P-trend = 0.005). The DNL and LCMUFA patterns were not associated with CVD incidence or with IHD or stroke (P-trend > 0.11 each). In the second cohort, the trans FA pattern, but not the other 2 patterns, was positively associated with progression of coronary atherosclerosis (P-trend < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: PCA appears to provide informative circulating FA patterns. A pattern driven mainly by trans FA levels related to greater CVD risk in older adults and coronary atherosclerosis progression in women with IHD.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cohort Studies, Coronary Artery Disease, Disease Progression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Myocardial Ischemia, Principal Component Analysis, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Stroke, Trans Fatty Acids, United States}, issn = {1938-3207}, doi = {10.3945/ajcn.112.039990}, author = {Imamura, Fumiaki and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and King, Irena B and Song, Xiaoling and Lichtenstein, Alice H and Matthan, Nirupa R and Herrington, David M and Siscovick, David S and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {1565, title = {Fatty acid-binding protein 4 and incident heart failure: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Eur J Heart Fail}, volume = {15}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Apr}, pages = {394-9}, chapter = {394}, abstract = {

AIM: To examine the association of plasma fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) with incident heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective study of 4179 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study, we measured plasma FABP4 on blood specimens collected between 1992 and 1993. Incident heart failure was adjudicated by an endpoint committee and we used a Cox proportional hazards model to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of heart failure. The average age at baseline was 75 years. During a median follow-up of 10.7 years, 1182 cases of incident heart failure occurred. We observed a positive association between FABP4 and heart failure in the minimally adjusted models [HR 1.32, 95\% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-1.38 per 1 SD higher FABP4] that was attenuated upon adjustment for potential confounders, mostly kidney function and body mass index (corresponding HR 1.09, 95\% CI 1.01-1.17). In a subsample of heart failure cases with available data on LV systolic function, FABP4 was not associated with heart failure with or without preserved LV systolic function. Exclusion of people with unintentional weight loss and self-reported fair/poor health status did not alter the conclusion.

CONCLUSION: An elevated plasma concentration of FABP4 was associated with a modestly higher risk of heart failure in older adults in the USA after adjustment for confounding factors.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Mass Index, Cohort Studies, Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Heart Failure, Humans, Male, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, United States, Ventricular Function, Left}, issn = {1879-0844}, doi = {10.1093/eurjhf/hfs196}, author = {Djouss{\'e}, Luc and Bartz, Traci M and Ix, Joachim H and Kochar, Jinesh and Kizer, Jorge R and Gottdiener, John S and Tracy, Russell P and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Siscovick, David S and Mukamal, Kenneth J and Zieman, Susan J} } @article {6163, title = {Genome-wide meta-analysis of observational studies shows common genetic variants associated with macronutrient intake.}, journal = {Am J Clin Nutr}, volume = {97}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Jun}, pages = {1395-402}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Macronutrient intake varies substantially between individuals, and there is evidence that this variation is partly accounted for by genetic variants.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify common genetic variants that are associated with macronutrient intake.

DESIGN: We performed 2-stage genome-wide association (GWA) meta-analysis of macronutrient intake in populations of European descent. Macronutrients were assessed by using food-frequency questionnaires and analyzed as percentages of total energy consumption from total fat, protein, and carbohydrate. From the discovery GWA (n = 38,360), 35 independent loci associated with macronutrient intake at P < 5 {\texttimes} 10(-6) were identified and taken forward to replication in 3 additional cohorts (n = 33,533) from the DietGen Consortium. For one locus, fat mass obesity-associated protein (FTO), cohorts with Illumina MetaboChip genotype data (n = 7724) provided additional replication data.

RESULTS: A variant in the chromosome 19 locus (rs838145) was associated with higher carbohydrate (β {\textpm} SE: 0.25 {\textpm} 0.04\%; P = 1.68 {\texttimes} 10(-8)) and lower fat (β {\textpm} SE: -0.21 {\textpm} 0.04\%; P = 1.57 {\texttimes} 10(-9)) consumption. A candidate gene in this region, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), encodes a fibroblast growth factor involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. The variants in this locus were associated with circulating FGF21 protein concentrations (P < 0.05) but not mRNA concentrations in blood or brain. The body mass index (BMI)-increasing allele of the FTO variant (rs1421085) was associated with higher protein intake (β {\textpm} SE: 0.10 {\textpm} 0.02\%; P = 9.96 {\texttimes} 10(-10)), independent of BMI (after adjustment for BMI, β {\textpm} SE: 0.08 {\textpm} 0.02\%; P = 3.15 {\texttimes} 10(-7)).

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that variants in genes involved in nutrient metabolism and obesity are associated with macronutrient consumption in humans. Trials related to this study were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00005131 (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities), NCT00005133 (Cardiovascular Health Study), NCT00005136 (Family Heart Study), NCT00005121 (Framingham Heart Study), NCT00083369 (Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Triglycerides), NCT01331512 (InCHIANTI Study), and NCT00005487 (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

}, keywords = {Alleles, Atherosclerosis, Body Mass Index, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Fats, Dietary Proteins, Energy Intake, European Continental Ancestry Group, Fibroblast Growth Factors, Follow-Up Studies, Gene-Environment Interaction, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genotype, Humans, Life Style, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Prospective Studies, Quantitative Trait Loci, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {1938-3207}, doi = {10.3945/ajcn.112.052183}, author = {Tanaka, Toshiko and Ngwa, Julius S and van Rooij, Frank J A and Zillikens, M Carola and Wojczynski, Mary K and Frazier-Wood, Alexis C and Houston, Denise K and Kanoni, Stavroula and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Luan, Jian{\textquoteright}an and Mikkil{\"a}, Vera and Renstrom, Frida and Sonestedt, Emily and Zhao, Jing Hua and Chu, Audrey Y and Qi, Lu and Chasman, Daniel I and de Oliveira Otto, Marcia C and Dhurandhar, Emily J and Feitosa, Mary F and Johansson, Ingegerd and Khaw, Kay-Tee and Lohman, Kurt K and Manichaikul, Ani and McKeown, Nicola M and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Singleton, Andrew and Stirrups, Kathleen and Viikari, Jorma and Ye, Zheng and Bandinelli, Stefania and Barroso, In{\^e}s and Deloukas, Panos and Forouhi, Nita G and Hofman, Albert and Liu, Yongmei and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and North, Kari E and Dimitriou, Maria and Hallmans, G{\"o}ran and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Langenberg, Claudia and Ordovas, Jose M and Uitterlinden, Andr{\'e} G and Hu, Frank B and Kalafati, Ioanna-Panagiota and Raitakari, Olli and Franco, Oscar H and Johnson, Andrew and Emilsson, Valur and Schrack, Jennifer A and Semba, Richard D and Siscovick, David S and Arnett, Donna K and Borecki, Ingrid B and Franks, Paul W and Kritchevsky, Stephen B and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Loos, Ruth J F and Orho-Melander, Marju and Rotter, Jerome I and Wareham, Nicholas J and Witteman, Jacqueline C M and Ferrucci, Luigi and Dedoussis, George and Cupples, L Adrienne and Nettleton, Jennifer A} } @article {6613, title = {Circulating omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and total and cause-specific mortality: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {130}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Oct 7}, pages = {1245-53}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Although omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) have been recommended to reduce coronary heart disease (CHD), controversy remains about benefits versus harms, including concerns over theorized proinflammatory effects of n-6 PUFA. We investigated associations of circulating n-6 PUFA including linoleic acid (the major dietary PUFA), γ-linolenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid, with total and cause-specific mortality in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a community-based U.S. cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 2792 participants(aged >=65 years) free of cardiovascular disease at baseline, plasma phospholipid n-6 PUFA were measured at baseline using standardized methods. All-cause and cause-specific mortality, and total incident CHD and stroke, were assessed and adjudicated centrally. Associations of PUFA with risk were assessed by Cox regression. During 34 291 person-years of follow-up (1992-2010), 1994 deaths occurred (678 cardiovascular deaths), with 427 fatal and 418 nonfatal CHD, and 154 fatal and 399 nonfatal strokes. In multivariable models, higher linoleic acid was associated with lower total mortality, with extreme-quintile hazard ratio =0.87 (P trend=0.005). Lower death was largely attributable to cardiovascular disease causes, especially nonarrhythmic CHD mortality (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95\% confidence interval, 0.32-0.82; P trend=0.001). Circulating γ-linolenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid were not significantly associated with total or cause-specific mortality (eg, for arachidonic acid and CHD death, the extreme-quintile hazard ratio was 0.97; 95\% confidence interval, 0.70-1.34; P trend=0.87). Evaluated semiparametrically, linoleic acid showed graded inverse associations with total mortality (P=0.005). There was little evidence that associations of n-6 PUFA with total mortality varied by age, sex, race, or plasma n-3 PUFA. Evaluating both n-6 and n-3 PUFA, lowest risk was evident with highest levels of both.

CONCLUSIONS: High circulating linoleic acid, but not other n-6 PUFA, was inversely associated with total and CHD mortality in older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Arachidonic Acid, Biomarkers, Cohort Studies, Coronary Disease, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Fatty Acids, Omega-6, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Linoleic Acid, Male, Prospective Studies, Regression Analysis, Risk Factors, Stroke, Survival Rate, United States}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.011590}, author = {Wu, Jason H Y and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and King, Irena B and Song, Xiaoling and Psaty, Bruce M and Siscovick, David S and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {6361, title = {Physical activity and heart rate variability in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {129}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 May 27}, pages = {2100-10}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Cardiac mortality and electrophysiological dysfunction both increase with age. Heart rate variability (HRV) provides indices of autonomic function and electrophysiology that are associated with cardiac risk. How habitual physical activity among older adults prospectively relates to HRV, including nonlinear indices of erratic sinus patterns, is not established. We hypothesized that increasing the levels of both total leisure-time activity and walking would be prospectively associated with more favorable time-domain, frequency-domain, and nonlinear HRV measures in older adults.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated serial longitudinal measures of both physical activity and 24-hour Holter HRV over 5 years among 985 older US adults in the community-based Cardiovascular Health Study. After multivariable adjustment, greater total leisure-time activity, walking distance, and walking pace were each prospectively associated with specific, more favorable HRV indices, including higher 24-hour standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals (Ptrend=0.009, 0.02, 0.06, respectively) and ultralow-frequency power (Ptrend=0.02, 0.008, 0.16, respectively). Greater walking pace was also associated with a higher short-term fractal scaling exponent (Ptrend=0.003) and lower Poincar{\'e} ratio (Ptrend=0.02), markers of less erratic sinus patterns.

CONCLUSIONS: Greater total leisure-time activity, and walking alone, as well, were prospectively associated with more favorable and specific indices of autonomic function in older adults, including several suggestive of more normal circadian fluctuations and less erratic sinoatrial firing. Our results suggest potential mechanisms that might contribute to lower cardiovascular mortality with habitual physical activity later in life.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cross-Sectional Studies, Electrocardiography, Ambulatory, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Status, Heart Rate, Humans, Leisure Activities, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Motor Activity, Prospective Studies, Walking}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.005361}, author = {Soares-Miranda, Luisa and Sattelmair, Jacob and Chaves, Paulo and Duncan, Glen E and Siscovick, David S and Stein, Phyllis K and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {6212, title = {Plasma free fatty acids and risk of stroke in the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Int J Stroke}, volume = {9}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Oct}, pages = {917-20}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Although free fatty acids have been positively associated with risk factors for stroke, the role of plasma free fatty acids in the development of stroke has not been elucidated in older adults.

AIMS: We sought to examine the association between plasma free fatty acids and incident stroke.

METHODS: Prospective cohort of 4369 men and women>=65 years of age in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Plasma levels of free fatty acids were measured at the 1992-1993 examination and stroke events were adjudicated by a committee of experts including neurologists and neuroradiologists. Cox regression was used to estimate the relative risk of stroke associated with free fatty acids concentrations.

RESULTS: The average age among participants was 75{\textpm}5{\textperiodcentered}2 years. During a median follow-up of 11{\textperiodcentered}4 years, 732 incident strokes occurred. The crude incidence rates of stroke were 14{\textperiodcentered}5, 14{\textperiodcentered}9, and 17{\textperiodcentered}6 per 1000 person-years across increasing tertiles of plasma free fatty acids. The adjusted hazard ratio (95\% confidence interval) for incident stroke was 1{\textperiodcentered}05 (0{\textperiodcentered}97-1{\textperiodcentered}14) per standard deviation increase in plasma free fatty acids. Restriction to ischemic stroke did not alter the results [hazard ratio (95\% confidence interval): 1{\textperiodcentered}04 (0{\textperiodcentered}96-1{\textperiodcentered}14) per standard deviation higher free fatty acids], and there was no effect modification by adiposity (P interaction=0{\textperiodcentered}18) or by diabetes (P interaction=0{\textperiodcentered}15).

CONCLUSION: Our data did not show an association of plasma free fatty acids with incident stroke among community dwelling older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Biomarkers, Brain Ischemia, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Risk, Stroke}, issn = {1747-4949}, doi = {10.1111/ijs.12216}, author = {Khawaja, Owais and Maziarz, Marlena and Biggs, Mary L and Longstreth, William T and Ix, Joachim H and Kizer, Jorge R and Zieman, Susan and Tracy, Russell P and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Mukamal, Kenneth J and Siscovick, David S and Djouss{\'e}, Luc} } @article {6609, title = {Plasma phospholipid trans-fatty acids levels, cardiovascular diseases, and total mortality: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {J Am Heart Assoc}, volume = {3}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Aug}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: While self-reported trans-fatty acid (TFA) consumption is linked to coronary heart disease (CHD), relationships between objective biomarkers of TFA subtypes (t-16:1n9, total t-18:1, and cis/trans-(c/t-), t/c- and t/t-18:2) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or total mortality are not well established.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated 2742 adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study, aged 74{\textpm}5 years and free of prevalent CVD, with plasma phospholipid TFA measures in 1992. Incident fatal and nonfatal CHD events, CVD and non-CVD mortality, and total mortality were centrally adjudicated through 2010. Risks were assessed using Cox proportional hazards. During 31 494 person-years, 1735 total deaths and 639 total CHD events occurred. In the multivariate model including mutual adjustment for the 5 TFA subtypes, circulating t/t-18:2 was associated with higher total mortality (extreme quintile hazard ratio (HR)=1.23, 95\% CI=1.04 to 1.44, P-trend=0.01), CVD mortality (HR=1.40, 95\% CI=1.05 to 1.86, P-trend=0.02), and total CHD (HR=1.39, 95\% CI=1.06 to 1.83, P-trend=0.01). t/c-18:2 was positively related to total mortality (HR=1.19, P-trend=0.05), total CHD (HR=1.67, P-trend=0.002), and nonfatal CHD (HR=2.06, P-trend=0.002) after mutual adjustment; these associations were insignificant without mutual adjustment. Neither t-16:1n9 nor t-18:1 was significantly associated with total mortality or CVD, nor was c/t-18:2 if we excluded early cases.

CONCLUSIONS: Among circulating TFAs, t/t-18:2 was most adversely associated with total mortality, mainly due to the increased risk of CVD. t/c-18:2 was also positively associated with total mortality and CHD, but only after adjustment for other TFAs. These results highlight the need for further investigation of dietary sources, nondietary determinants, and health effects of specific TFA subtypes, especially t-18:2 isomers.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cohort Studies, Dietary Fats, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Mortality, Phospholipids, Prognosis, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Trans Fatty Acids}, issn = {2047-9980}, doi = {10.1161/JAHA.114.000914}, author = {Wang, Qianyi and Imamura, Fumiaki and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Rimm, Eric B and Wang, Molin and King, Irena B and Song, Xiaoling and Siscovick, David and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {6584, title = {Plasma-free fatty acids, fatty acid-binding protein 4, and mortality in older adults (from the Cardiovascular Health Study).}, journal = {Am J Cardiol}, volume = {114}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Sep 15}, pages = {843-8}, abstract = {

Plasma-free fatty acids (FFAs) are largely derived from adipose tissue. Elevated levels of FFA and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), a key cytoplasmic chaperone of fatty acids, have been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, but limited data are available on the relation of these biomarkers with cardiovascular and total mortality. We studied 4,707 participants with a mean age of 75 years who had plasma FFA and FABP4 measured in 1992 to 1993 as part of the Cardiovascular Health Study, an observational cohort of community-dwelling older adults. Over a median follow-up of 11.8 years, 3,555 participants died. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to determine the association between FFA, FABP4, and mortality. In fully adjusted models, FFA were associated with dose-dependent significantly higher total mortality (hazard ratio [HR] per SD: 1.14, 95\% confidence interval [CI] 1.09 to 1.18), but FABP4 levels were not (HR 1.04, 95\% CI 0.98 to 1.09). In a cause-specific mortality analysis, higher concentrations of FFA were associated with significantly higher risk of death because of cardiovascular disease, dementia, infection, and respiratory causes but not cancer or trauma. We did not find evidence of an interaction between FFA and FABP4 (p = 0.45), but FABP4 appeared to be associated with total mortality differentially in men and women (HR 1.17, 95\% CI 1.08 to 1.26 for men; HR 1.02, 95\% CI 0.96 to 1.07 for women, interaction p value <0.001). In conclusion, in a cohort of community-dwelling older subjects, elevated plasma concentrations of FFA, but not FABP4, were associated with cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality.

}, keywords = {Age Distribution, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cause of Death, Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Status, Humans, Male, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Survival Rate, Time Factors, United States}, issn = {1879-1913}, doi = {10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.06.012}, author = {Miedema, Michael D and Maziarz, Marlena and Biggs, Mary L and Zieman, Susan J and Kizer, Jorge R and Ix, Joachim H and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Tracy, Russell P and Psaty, Bruce M and Siscovick, David S and Mukamal, Kenneth J and Djouss{\'e}, Luc} } @article {6663, title = {Plasma phospholipid very-long-chain saturated fatty acids and incident diabetes in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Clin Nutr}, volume = {101}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 May}, pages = {1047-54}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Circulating saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are integrated biomarkers of diet and metabolism that may influence the pathogenesis of diabetes. In epidemiologic studies, circulating levels of palmitic acid (16:0) are associated with diabetes; however, very-long-chain SFAs (VLSFAs), with 20 or more carbons, differ from palmitic acid in their biological activities, and little is known of the association of circulating VLSFA with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: By using data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, we examined the associations of plasma phospholipid VLSFA levels measured at baseline with subsequent incident diabetes.

DESIGN: A total of 3179 older adults, with a mean age of 75 y at study baseline (1992-1993), were followed through 2011. We used multiple proportional hazards regression to examine the associations of arachidic acid (20:0), behenic acid (22:0), and lignoceric acid (24:0) with diabetes.

RESULTS: Baseline levels of each VLSFA were cross-sectionally associated with lower triglyceride levels and lower circulating palmitic acid. We identified 284 incident diabetes cases during follow-up. Compared with the lowest quartile, levels of arachidic acid in the highest quartile of the fatty acid distribution were associated with a 47\% lower risk of diabetes (95\% CI: 23\%, 63\%; P-trend: <0.001), after adjustment for demographics, lifestyle factors, and clinical conditions. In analogous comparisons, levels of behenic and lignoceric acid were similarly associated with 33\% (95\% CI: 6\%, 53\%; P-trend: 0.02) and 37\% (95\% CI: 11\%, 55\%; P-trend: 0.01) lower diabetes risk, respectively. Adjustment for triglycerides and palmitic acid attenuated the associations toward the null, and only the association of arachidic acid remained statistically significant (32\% lower risk for fourth vs. first quartile; P-trend: 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that circulating VLSFAs are associated with a lower risk of diabetes, and these associations may be mediated by lower triglycerides and palmitic acid. The study highlights the need to distinguish the effects of different SFAs and to explore determinants of circulating VLSFAs. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00005133.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Diet, Eicosanoic Acids, Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Observational Studies as Topic, Palmitic Acid, Phospholipids, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Triglycerides}, issn = {1938-3207}, doi = {10.3945/ajcn.114.101857}, author = {Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Fretts, Amanda M and Sitlani, Colleen M and Biggs, Mary L and Mukamal, Kenneth and King, Irena B and Song, Xiaoling and Djouss{\'e}, Luc and Siscovick, David S and McKnight, Barbara and Sotoodehnia, Nona and Kizer, Jorge R and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {6616, title = {Prospective association of fatty acids in the de novo lipogenesis pathway with risk of type 2 diabetes: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Clin Nutr}, volume = {101}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jan}, pages = {153-63}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Experimental evidence suggests that hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) affects insulin homeostasis via synthesis of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Few prospective studies have used fatty acid biomarkers to assess associations with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated associations of major circulating SFAs [palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0)] and MUFA [oleic acid (18:1n-9)] in the DNL pathway with metabolic risk factors and incident diabetes in community-based older U.S. adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study. We secondarily assessed other DNL fatty acid biomarkers [myristic acid (14:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7), 7-hexadecenoic acid (16:1n-9), and vaccenic acid (18:1n-7)] and estimated dietary SFAs and MUFAs.

DESIGN: In 3004 participants free of diabetes, plasma phospholipid fatty acids were measured in 1992, and incident diabetes was identified by medication use and blood glucose. Usual diets were assessed by using repeated food-frequency questionnaires. Multivariable linear and Cox regression were used to assess associations with metabolic risk factors and incident diabetes, respectively.

RESULTS: At baseline, circulating palmitic acid and stearic acid were positively associated with adiposity, triglycerides, inflammation biomarkers, and insulin resistance (P-trend < 0.01 each), whereas oleic acid showed generally beneficial associations (P-trend < 0.001 each). During 30,763 person-years, 297 incident diabetes cases occurred. With adjustment for demographics and lifestyle, palmitic acid (extreme-quintile HR: 1.89; 95\% CI: 1.27, 2.83; P-trend = 0.001) and stearic acid (HR: 1.62; 95\% CI: 1.09, 2.41; P-trend = 0.006) were associated with higher diabetes risk, whereas oleic acid was not significantly associated. In secondary analyses, vaccenic acid was inversely associated with diabetes (HR: 0.56; 95\% CI: 0.38, 0.83; P-trend = 0.005). Other fatty acid biomarkers and estimated dietary SFAs or MUFAs were not significantly associated with incident diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS: In this large prospective cohort, circulating palmitic acid and stearic acid were associated with higher diabetes risk, and vaccenic acid was associated with lower diabetes risk. These results indicate a need for additional investigation of biological mechanisms linking specific fatty acids in the DNL pathway to the pathogenesis of diabetes.

}, keywords = {Aged, Biomarkers, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Lipogenesis, Liver, Male, Palmitic Acid, Phospholipids, Prevalence, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Stearic Acids, United States, Up-Regulation}, issn = {1938-3207}, doi = {10.3945/ajcn.114.092601}, author = {Ma, Wenjie and Wu, Jason H Y and Wang, Qianyi and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Mukamal, Kenneth J and Djouss{\'e}, Luc and King, Irena B and Song, Xiaoling and Biggs, Mary L and Delaney, Joseph A and Kizer, Jorge R and Siscovick, David S and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {6933, title = {Physical Activity and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {133}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jan 12}, pages = {147-55}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Although guidelines suggest that older adults engage in regular physical activity (PA) to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD), surprisingly few studies have evaluated this relationship, especially in those >75 years. In addition, with advancing age the ability to perform some types of PA might decrease, making light-moderate exercise such as walking especially important to meet recommendations.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective cohort analysis among 4207 US men and women of a mean age of 73 years (standard deviation=6) who were free of CVD at baseline in the Cardiovascular Health Study were followed from 1989 to 1999. PA was assessed and cumulatively updated over time to minimize misclassification and assess the long-term effects of habitual activity. Walking (pace, blocks, combined walking score) was updated annually from baseline through 1999. Leisure-time activity and exercise intensity were updated at baseline, 1992, and 1996. Incident CVD (fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary death, or stroke) was adjudicated using medical records. During 41,995 person-years of follow-up, 1182 CVD events occurred. After multivariable adjustment, greater PA was inversely associated with coronary heart disease, stroke (especially ischemic stroke), and total CVD, even in those >=75 years. Walking pace, distance, and overall walking score, leisure-time activity, and exercise intensity were each associated with lower risk. For example, in comparison with a walking pace <2 mph, those that habitually walked at a pace >3 mph had a lower risk of coronary heart disease (0.50; confidence interval, 0.38-0.67), stroke (0.47; confidence interval, 033-0.66), and CVD (0.50; confidence interval, 0.40-0.62).

CONCLUSIONS: These data provide empirical evidence supporting PA recommendations, in particular, walking, to reduce the incidence of CVD among older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Coronary Disease, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Status, Humans, Leisure Activities, Male, Motor Activity, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Sampling Studies, Stroke, United States, Walking}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018323}, author = {Soares-Miranda, Luisa and Siscovick, David S and Psaty, Bruce M and Longstreth, W T and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {7490, title = {Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Incident Ischemic Stroke and Its Atherothrombotic and Cardioembolic Subtypes in 3 US Cohorts.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {48}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Oct}, pages = {2678-2685}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The associations of individual long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with incident ischemic stroke and its main subtypes are not well established. We aimed to investigate prospectively the relationship of circulating eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with risk of total ischemic, atherothrombotic, and cardioembolic stroke.

METHODS: We measured circulating phospholipid fatty acids at baseline in 3 separate US cohorts: CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study), NHS (Nurses{\textquoteright} Health Study), and HPFS (Health Professionals Follow-Up Study). Ischemic strokes were prospectively adjudicated and classified into atherothrombotic (large- and small-vessel infarctions) or cardioembolic by imaging studies and medical records. Risk according to fatty acid levels was assessed using Cox proportional hazards (CHS) or conditional logistic regression (NHS, HPFS) according to study design. Cohort findings were pooled using fixed-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 953 incident ischemic strokes were identified (408 atherothrombotic, 256 cardioembolic, and 289 undetermined subtypes) during median follow-up of 11.2 years (CHS) and 8.3 years (pooled, NHS and HPFS). After multivariable adjustment, lower risk of total ischemic stroke was seen with higher DPA (highest versus lowest quartiles; pooled hazard ratio [HR], 0.74; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.92) and DHA (HR, 0.80; 95\% CI, 0.64-1.00) but not eicosapentaenoic acid (HR, 0.94; 95\% CI, 0.77-1.19). DHA was associated with lower risk of atherothrombotic stroke (HR, 0.53; 95\% CI, 0.34-0.83) and DPA with lower risk of cardioembolic stroke (HR, 0.58; 95\% CI, 0.37-0.92). Findings in each individual cohort were consistent with pooled results.

CONCLUSIONS: In 3 large US cohorts, higher circulating levels of DHA were inversely associated with incident atherothrombotic stroke and DPA with cardioembolic stroke. These novel findings suggest differential pathways of benefit for DHA, DPA, and eicosapentaenoic acid.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Brain Ischemia, Cardiovascular Diseases, Case-Control Studies, Cohort Studies, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Intracranial Arteriosclerosis, Intracranial Embolism, Intracranial Thrombosis, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Random Allocation, Risk Factors, Stroke, United States}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.018235}, author = {Saber, Hamidreza and Yakoob, Mohammad Yawar and Shi, Peilin and Longstreth, W T and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Siscovick, David and Rexrode, Kathryn M and Willett, Walter C and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {8777, title = {Blood n-3 fatty acid levels and total and cause-specific mortality from 17 prospective studies.}, journal = {Nat Commun}, volume = {12}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 04 22}, pages = {2329}, abstract = {

The health effects of omega-3 fatty acids have been controversial. Here we report the results of a de novo pooled analysis conducted with data from 17 prospective cohort studies examining the associations between blood omega-3 fatty acid levels and risk for all-cause mortality. Over a median of 16 years of follow-up, 15,720 deaths occurred among 42,466 individuals. We found that, after multivariable adjustment for relevant risk factors, risk for death from all causes was significantly lower (by 15-18\%, at least p < 0.003) in the highest vs the lowest quintile for circulating long chain (20-22 carbon) omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids). Similar relationships were seen for death from cardiovascular disease, cancer and other causes. No associations were seen with the 18-carbon omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid. These findings suggest that higher circulating levels of marine n-3 PUFA are associated with a lower risk of premature death.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Premature, Prospective Studies, Protective Factors, Risk Factors}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-021-22370-2}, author = {Harris, William S and Tintle, Nathan L and Imamura, Fumiaki and Qian, Frank and Korat, Andres V Ardisson and Marklund, Matti and Djouss{\'e}, Luc and Bassett, Julie K and Carmichael, Pierre-Hugues and Chen, Yun-Yu and Hirakawa, Yoichiro and K{\"u}pers, Leanne K and Laguzzi, Federica and Lankinen, Maria and Murphy, Rachel A and Samieri, Cecilia and Senn, Mackenzie K and Shi, Peilin and Virtanen, Jyrki K and Brouwer, Ingeborg A and Chien, Kuo-Liong and Eiriksdottir, Gudny and Forouhi, Nita G and Geleijnse, Johanna M and Giles, Graham G and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Helmer, Catherine and Hodge, Allison and Jackson, Rebecca and Khaw, Kay-Tee and Laakso, Markku and Lai, Heidi and Laurin, Danielle and Leander, Karin and Lindsay, Joan and Micha, Renata and Mursu, Jaako and Ninomiya, Toshiharu and Post, Wendy and Psaty, Bruce M and Riserus, Ulf and Robinson, Jennifer G and Shadyab, Aladdin H and Snetselaar, Linda and Sala-Vila, Aleix and Sun, Yangbo and Steffen, Lyn M and Tsai, Michael Y and Wareham, Nicholas J and Wood, Alexis C and Wu, Jason H Y and Hu, Frank and Sun, Qi and Siscovick, David S and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Mozaffarian, Dariush} }