Long-chain omega-6 fatty acids in adipose tissue and the risk of acute ischemic cardiovascular events

Background The long-chain omega-6 fatty acids, arachidonic acid (AA) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), may give rise to a range of pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic eicosanoids, but their role in cardiovascular disease remain controversial. Purpose To investigate the association between adipose tissue content of AA and DGLA and the risk of acute ischemic cardiovascular events. Methods We conducted a case-cohort study nested within the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort (n = 52,374). Baseline adipose tissue content of AA and DLA was determined by gas chromatography in all incident cases and in a random sample of the cohort (n = 4,484). Incident cases of acute ischemic cardiovascular events defined as a composite of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke were identified through nationwide Danish registries. Statistical analyses were performed using weighed Cox proportional hazard regression adjusted for established risk factors. Results During a median of 16.8 years of follow-up, we identified a total of 6,008 acute ischemic cardiovascular events with complete information. Multivariable analyses showed a positive association between both AA and DGLA and the risk of acute ischemic cardiovascular events (Table). Thus, the hazard ratio of acute ischemic cardiovascular events was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.00; 1.34) for AA and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.22; 2.69) for DGLA when comparing the highest quintile with the lowest quintile in adipose tissue, respectively. Conclusions A high content of AA and DGLA in adipose tissue was associated with a higher risk of acute ischemic cardiovascular events.