Lindqvist Helen M, Sandberg Ann-Sofie, Fagerberg Björn, Hulthe Johannes
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden.
Atherosclerosis. 2009 Aug;205(2):574-8. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.12.032. Epub 2008 Dec 30.
Increased intake of the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to decrease the risk for cardiovascular death and to reduce CVD risk factors. It has also been suggested that EPA and DHA reduce atherosclerosis progression, but data are inconclusive. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a well-established surrogate measure for sub-clinical atherosclerosis. Our aim was to examine if plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA are associated with IMT and plaque occurrence and size in the carotid and femoral arteries.
IMT and plaque occurrence in carotid and femoral arteries was measured by ultrasound in 487 sixty-one-year-old men in this cross-sectional study. Plasma phospholipid levels of EPA and DHA, serum lipids, cell adhesion molecules, and blood pressure were measured, and occurrence of diabetes and socioeconomic factors were assessed.
Plasma phospholipid EPA was negatively associated with IMT in carotid and femoral arteries, and with cigarette years and cell adhesion proteins. EPA was positively associated with HDL, total cholesterol, blood pressure, plasma insulin and years of education. The association between EPA and carotid IMT remained after adjustment for blood pressure, but not for other covariates. Plasma phospholipid DHA was negatively associated with cigarette years and several endothelial markers, and positively associated with years of education and systolic blood pressure. In contrast to other studies, EPA content was higher in diabetic patients compared with patients without diabetes.
Plasma phospholipid EPA, but not DHA, was inversely associated with carotid and femoral IMT, as well as several endothelial markers supporting the concept of an effect of EPA on the vascular wall. This association was independent of blood pressure, but not for other covariates. There was no association between plasma phospholipid EPA or DHA and plaque occurrence in the carotid and femoral arteries.
已证实增加n-3脂肪酸二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）的摄入量可降低心血管疾病死亡风险并减少心血管疾病风险因素。也有人提出EPA和DHA可减缓动脉粥样硬化进展，但数据尚无定论。颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）是公认的亚临床动脉粥样硬化替代指标。我们的目的是研究血浆磷脂中的EPA和DHA是否与颈动脉和股动脉的IMT、斑块发生情况及大小相关。
在这项横断面研究中，通过超声测量了487名61岁男性颈动脉和股动脉的IMT及斑块发生情况。测量了血浆磷脂中EPA和DHA的水平、血脂、细胞黏附分子及血压，并评估了糖尿病的发生情况和社会经济因素。
血浆磷脂中的EPA与颈动脉和股动脉的IMT呈负相关，与吸烟年限和细胞黏附蛋白也呈负相关。EPA与高密度脂蛋白、总胆固醇、血压、血浆胰岛素及受教育年限呈正相关。调整血压后，EPA与颈动脉IMT之间的关联依然存在，但调整其他协变量后则不然。血浆磷脂中的DHA与吸烟年限及几种内皮标志物呈负相关，与受教育年限和收缩压呈正相关。与其他研究不同的是，糖尿病患者的EPA含量高于非糖尿病患者。
血浆磷脂中的EPA而非DHA与颈动脉和股动脉的IMT以及几种内皮标志物呈负相关，这支持了EPA对血管壁有影响的观点。这种关联独立于血压，但不独立于其他协变量。血浆磷脂中的EPA或DHA与颈动脉和股动脉的斑块发生情况无关。
