Association between circulating levels of unsaturated fatty acids and risk for prediabetes in the NHANES 2003-2004 and 2011-2012.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association between serum levels of common and uncommon unsaturated fatty acids and prediabetes risk. METHODS: Data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2003-2004 and 2011-2012. Weighted proportional and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of serum PUFAs and MUFAs with prediabetes risk after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 3575 individuals were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of PUFAs EPA (205 n3) and GLA (183 n6) were associated with increased prediabetes risk (EPA (205 n3) OR = 1.878, 95% CI 1.177-2.996, Ptrend = 0.002; GLA (183 n6) 1.702, 95% CI 1.140-2.541, Ptrend = 0.016). The MUFAs PA (161 n7) and EA (201 n9) were associated with the risk of prediabetes (OR in quintile5 PA (161 n7) 1.780, 95% CI 1.056-3.001, Ptrend = 0.003; EA (201 n9) 0.587, 95% CI 0.347-0.994, Ptrend = 0.010). Moreover, nonlinear analysis revealed that serum levels of EPA (205 n3) and EA (201 n-9) were nonlinearly associated with prediabetes risk. CONCLUSION: Some serum n-3 PUFAs are positively associated with prediabetes, several serum n-6 PUFAs are inversely associated with prediabetes. Regulating individual serum USFA levels may help prevent prediabetes, thereby providing evidence for clinical and nutritional practices.