RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a marine omega-3 fatty acid, with long-term all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, and cancer mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from UK Biobank, which included 117,702 subjects with baseline plasma DHA levels and 12.7 years of follow-up between April 2007 and December 2021. Associations with risk for mortality endpoints were analyzed categorically by quintile of DHA plasma levels. RESULTS: Comparing the lowest to highest quintiles of circulating levels of DHA, there was 21% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.85; P<.0001). In a secondary analysis, we merged the UK Biobank findings with those from a recent FORCE (Fatty Acid and Outcome Research Consortium) meta-analysis that included 17 prospective cohort studies and 42,702 individuals examining DHA and mortality associations. The cumulative sample population included 160,404 individuals and 24,342 deaths during a median of 14 years of follow-up. After multivariable adjustment for relevant risk factors comparing the lowest to the highest quintiles of DHA, there was 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.87; P<.0001), 21% lower risk for CV disease mortality (95% CI, 0.73 to 0.87; P<.001), 17% lower risk for cancer mortality (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.89; P<.0001), and 15% lower risk for all other mortality (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.91; P<.001). CONCLUSION: Higher DHA levels were associated with significant risk reductions in all-cause mortality, as well as reduced risks for deaths due to CV disease, cancer, and all other causes. The findings strengthen the hypothesis that DHA, a marine-sourced omega-3, may support CV health and lifespan.
Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares , Ácidos Graxos Ômega-3 , Neoplasias , Humanos , Ácidos Docosa-Hexaenoicos , Causas de Morte , Ácido Eicosapentaenoico , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Circulating levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been associated with frailty among Koreans (a population with a high intake of fish), but whether this association exists in Western populations with low fish intake is unknown. The present study examined the hypothesis that the prevalence of frailty was inversely associated with plasma levels of n-3 PUFAs, with the intake of oily fish, and with fish oil supplementation in older adults in the United Kingdom. METHODS: UK Biobank including 79 330 adults aged ≥65 years with dietary data, and 18 802 participants with plasma fatty acid data were used. Frailty was defined using the Cardiovascular Health Study index, plasma levels of n-3 PUFAs were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance, and intake of oily fish and/or fish oil supplements was collected via food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Frailty prevalence was inversely associated with n-3 PUFA levels [odds ratios (OR) per SD: 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79-0.94; pâ <â .001], with oily fish intake (never vs ≥2 servings per week; OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.52-0.68, pâ <â .001), and with the use of fish oil supplements (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.66-0.78; pâ <â .001) after adjusting for confounding factors. All 3 exposures were also associated with each frailty criterion, particularly low physical activity and walking pace. CONCLUSIONS: Inverse associations between plasma n-3 PUFA levels and measures of frailty suggest that higher intakes of oily fish or the use of fish oil supplements may help prevent frailty in older adults in the United Kingdom.