Serum and dietary fatty acids and their relationship to vascular inflammation and carotid intima-media thickness: implications for cardiovascular risk in patients with arterial hypertension

Background Pathogenic mechanisms involved in arterial hypertension (HT) promote the atherosclerosis development. Fatty acids (FAs) could modulate these processes. We investigated the association between dietary and serum FAs and early atherosclerosis development and their correlation with serum vascular inflammation markers in HT.Methods 96 patients were included. Dietary information was collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Serum FAs were detected by gas chromatography. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and fibrinogen serum were determined by immunoturbidimetry, enzyme immunoassay and Clauss method, respectively. Carotid intima media-thickness (cIMT) was determined by ultrasound. Multivariate linear regression models were applied.Results Patients showed an adverse health profile, with high caloric intake (3113 ± 1477 kcal/day), LDL cholesterol (126.0 ± 35.1 mg/dL), and overweight (BMI 31.1 ± 5.5 kg/t2), and also an inflam­matory process, characterised by higher hs-CRP (3.9 ± 2.7 mg/L) and fibrinogen (433.4 ± 84.6 mg/dL) concentrations. We found significant inverse correlations between dietary monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs), serum omega-3 polyunsaturated FAs (n-3 PUFAs), and hs-CRP (β = −3.59, [95% CI −6.87 to −0.32], p = 0.03 and β = −0.70, [95% CI −1.42–0.01], p = 0.05, respectively), significant positive associations between dietary MUFAs, serum saturated FAs (SFAs) and cIMT (β = 81.96, [95% CI 33.42–130.50], p = 0.002 and β = 36.71, [95% CI 6.34–67.08], p = 0.02, respectively), and significant inverse correlations between serum omega-6 polyunsaturated FAs (n-6 PUFAs) and cIMT (β = −91.44, [95% CI −168.01 to −14.88], p = 0.02 and β = −41.01, [95% CI −70.73–11.28], p = 0.01).Conclusions Serum n-3 PUFAs modulate hs-CRP levels, while n-6 PUFAs suggest antiatherosclerotic properties in HT. The ambiguous impact of MUFAs requires comprehensive research.