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Plasma omega-3 fatty acids and incident diabetes in older adults.

TitlePlasma omega-3 fatty acids and incident diabetes in older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsDjoussé, L, Biggs, ML, Lemaitre, RN, King, IB, Song, X, Ix, JH, Mukamal, KJ, Siscovick, DS, Mozaffarian, D
JournalAm J Clin Nutr
Volume94
Issue2
Pagination527-33
Date Published2011 Aug
ISSN1938-3207
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, alpha-Linolenic Acid, Diabetes Mellitus, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Female, Humans, Male, Phospholipids, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies
Abstract<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>Although long-chain omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) consumption estimated via food-frequency questionnaires has been associated with a higher incidence of diabetes, limited prospective data on diabetes risk are available that use objective biomarkers of n-3 FAs.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>We sought to examine the relation between plasma phospholipid n-3 FAs and incident diabetes.</p><p><b>DESIGN: </b>We prospectively analyzed data in 3088 older men and women (mean age: 75 y) from the Cardiovascular Health Study (1992-2007). Plasma phospholipid n-3 FAs were measured by using gas chromatography, and incident diabetes was ascertained by using information on hypoglycemic agents and serum glucose. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate multivariable-adjusted relative risks.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>During a median follow-up of 10.6 y, 204 new cases of diabetes occurred. In a multivariable model that controlled for age, sex, race, clinic site, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking, physical activity, LDL cholesterol, and linoleic acid, relative risks (95% CIs) for diabetes were 1.0 (reference), 0.96 (0.65, 1.43), 1.03 (0.69, 1.54), and 0.64 (0.41, 1.01) across consecutive quartiles of phospholipid eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (P for trend = 0.05). Corresponding relative risks (95% CIs) for phospholipid α-linolenic acid (ALA) were 1.0 (reference), 0.93 (0.65, 1.34), 0.99 (0.68, 1.44), and 0.57 (0.36, 0.90) (P for trend = 0.03).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>With the use of objective biomarkers, long-chain n-3 FAs and ALA were not associated with a higher incidence of diabetes. Individuals with the highest concentrations of both types of FAs had lower risk of diabetes.</p>
DOI10.3945/ajcn.111.013334
Alternate JournalAm. J. Clin. Nutr.
PubMed ID21593500
PubMed Central IDPMC3142727
Grant ListN01-HC- 35129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85085 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
U01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL-075366 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG-15928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30-AG-024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AG-20098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG-027058 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85082 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC-55222 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85083 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-75150 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC-15103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL 085710-01 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL094555 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-45133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85239 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG-023629 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85084 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States