Serum non-esterified trans-18:2 CLA was positively associated with carotid IMT in older adults with ASCVD (β 44.8; 95% CI 19.2-70.4; p=0.025), while palmitoleic acid was associated with FMD.
Cohort (n=1,763)
Are individual fasting serum non-esterified fatty acids associated with carotid IMT and FMD in older adults?
Specific serum non-esterified fatty acids, such as conjugated linoleic acid and palmitoleic acid, are associated with subclinical markers of atherosclerosis (carotid IMT and FMD) in older adults.
Effect estimate: β 44.8 (95% CI 19.2, 70.4)
p-value: p=0.025
Backgrounds and aims: Elevated common carotid artery intima-media thickness (carotid IMT) and diminished flow-mediated dilation (FMD) are early subclinical indicators of atherosclerosis. Serum total non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations have been positively associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. The relations between individual NEFA, carotid IMT and FMD have as yet to be assessed. Methods: We investigated the associations between fasting serum individual NEFA, carotid IMT and FMD among Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) participants with (n = 255 for carotid IMT, 301 for FMD) or without (n = 1314 for carotid IMT, 1462 for FMD) known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Using archived samples (fasting) collected from 1996–1997 (baseline), 35 individual NEFAs were measured using gas chromatography. Carotid IMT and estimated plaque thickness (mean of maximum internal carotid IMT) were determined in 1998–1999. FMD was measured in 1997–1998. Linear regression adjusted by the Holm-Bonferroni method was used to assess relations between individual NEFA, carotid IMT and FMD. Results: In multivariable adjusted linear regression models per SD increment, the non-esterified trans fatty acid conjugated linoleic acid (trans-18:2 CLA) was positively associated with carotid IMT β (95% CI): 44.8 (19.2, 70.4), p = 0.025 among participants with, but not without, ASCVD 2.16 (−6.74, 11.5), p = 1.000. Non-esterified cis-palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7c) was positively associated with FMD 19.7 (8.34, 31.0), p = 0.024 among participants without, but not with ASCVD. No significant associations between NEFAs and estimated plaque thickness were observed. Conclusions: In older adults, serum non-esterified CLA and palmitoleic acid were positively associated with carotid IMT and FMD, respectively, suggesting potential modifiable biomarkers for arteriopathy.
Huang et al. (Tue,) conducted a cohort in Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (n=1,763). Serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) was evaluated on Carotid artery intima-media thickness (carotid IMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (β 44.8, 95% CI 19.2, 70.4, p=0.025). Serum non-esterified trans-18:2 CLA was positively associated with carotid IMT in older adults with ASCVD (β 44.8; 95% CI 19.2-70.4; p=0.025), while palmitoleic acid was associated with FMD.