Journal Name:
Nutr. Res.
Article Title:
Total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake is inversely associated with serum C-reactive protein in young Japanese women
Date Written:
2008
Volume:
28
Number:
5
Page:
309
Author(s):
Murakami, K.; Sasaki, S.; Takahashi, Y.; Uenishi, K.; Yamasaki, M.; Hayabuchi, H.; Goda, T.; Oka, J.; Baba, K.; Ohki, K.; Muramatsu, K.; Sugiyama, Y.
Article:
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of inflammation that is independently and directly associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Identification of modifiable lifestyle factors that influence circulating CRP concentrations (eg, dietary habits) is thus vitally important from a prevention perspective. Nutrients associated with CRP concentration in epidemiologic studies include fat and several fatty acids. However, almost all these studies have been conducted in middle-aged and elderly populations in Western countries, and evidence from non-Western countries and young adult populations is limited.
Here is described a cross-sectional study of associations between selected dietary factors, including intake of total fat, saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), total omega 3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), α-linolenic acid (ALA) and several other nutrients with serum CRP concentration in a group of young Japanese women.
Research among Japanese populations is important because the differences in dietary habits between Japanese and Western populations (particularly, higher intake of fish and, hence, omega 3 PUFA in Japanese than in Western populations hamper the extrapolation of findings in Western countries to Japanese.
The subjects were 443 female Japanese dietetic students aged 18 to 22 years. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated, self-administered, comprehensive, diet history questionnaire. Serum CRP concentrations were measured by highly sensitive nephelometry. The prevalence of elevated CRP (> or = 1 mg/L) was 5.6%. After adjustment for possible confounding factors including body mass index, a significant inverse association was seen between total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and elevated CRP. The multivariate adjusted odds ratios of elevated CRP for women with intake below and above the median (1.1% of energy) were 1.00 and 0.33, respectively. Intake of eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid and alpha-linolenic acid was not associated with elevated CRP concentrations. Similar inverse relations have been observed in middle-aged American women and elderly Japanese men and women. The inverse relation between total omega 3 PUFA intake and circulating CRP is biologically reasonable, given that omega 3 PUFA possesses anti-inflammatory properties, such as the ability to inhibit inflammatory cytokine production.
No clear associations were observed for other dietary factors examined including total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, total dietary fiber, soluble dietary fiber, insoluble dietary fiber, and magnesium; fruits, vegetables, and fish and shellfish; and dietary glycemic load.
After adjustment for potential confounding factors, including BMI, an inverse relation between total omega 3 PUFA intake and elevated serum CRP concentrations were observed in this cross-sectional study in young Japanese women. Dietary modification to increase intake of total omega 3 PUFA even in earlier stage of life may thus be an important strategy from the standpoint of prevention. Further prospective studies or intervention trials should be undertaken to confirm the relation between total omega 3 PUFA intake and circulating CRP concentration.
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