Relationship of serum fatty acid composition and desaturase activity to C-reactive protein in Japanese men and women

Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar, Masao Sato, Yuko Ejima, Akiko Nanri, Yumi Matsushita, Katsumi Imaizumi, Tetsuya Mizoue

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21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Although fatty acid composition in serum and desaturase activity, which alters serum fatty acid composition, has been associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in Western populations, no study has been carried out in non-Western populations. We examined the association of serum fatty acids and estimated desaturase activity with CRP concentrations in Japanese men and women. Methods: Subjects were 489 Japanese municipal employees aged 21-67 years who participated in a survey at the time of a periodic health check-up. Serum high-sensitivity CRP concentrations were measured using the latex agglutination nephelometry method. Fatty acid composition was measured in serum cholesteryl esters and desaturase activities by fatty acid product-to-precursor ratios. Relationships were assessed using multiple regression. Results: Serum CRP concentration was positively associated with palmitic acid (P for trend = 0.002) and inversely with alpha-linolenic acid (P for trend = 0.01) in men, and positively with dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (P for trend in men or women = 0.01) and inversely with delta-5-desaturase (20:4n-6/20:3n-6) (P for trend in men and women = 0.05 and 0.002, respectively) in men and women. Conclusions: Low-grade inflammation may be associated with a serum fatty acid pattern of high palmitic acid or low alpha-linolenic acid in men, and of high dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid or low delta-5-desaturase in both sexes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)520-524
Number of pages5
JournalAtherosclerosis
Volume220
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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