Abstract 17: The Association Between Erythrocyte n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (n-3 PUFAs) Content and Inflammation in Male Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Abstract

Objectives Dietary intake of n-3 PUFAs has been associated with cardiovascular disease, though the relationship to PAD is unclear. PAD patients have an increased burden of systemic inflammation. In a cross-sectional PAD cohort study, we evaluated the relationship between n-3 PUFAs content of red blood cells (omega-3 index) and biomarkers of systemic inflammation. Methods This was a prospective cohort study of patients (n=83) presenting to vascular surgery clinic for evaluation of PAD. The omega-3 index was measured using gas chromatography and inflammatory markers (hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α and ICAM-1) via ELISA kits. We used linear regression to evaluate the independent association between the omega-3 index and inflammation. Results 70 patients had PAD while 13 were found to have a normal ankle-brachial index (ABI). Mean (±SD) age was 67 ± 7 years. Mean ABI was 0.85 ± 0.23. The omega-3 index decreased across defined AHA hsCRP categories (Figure 1, p=0.04). One percentage point decrease in the omega-3 index was associated with increases in CRP (14%, 95% CI 0, 25, p=0.04), IL6 (8%, 95% CI 1, 15, p=0.02) and possibly ICAM-1 (4%, 95% CI -1, 12, p=0.13), but not TNF-α. After adjusting for age, race, HDL, smoking status, ABI and the body-mass index, the omega-3 index remained significantly (negatively) associated with systemic inflammation as measured by hsCRP in a male population at risk or suffering from PAD (p=0.05). Conclusions In a contemporary cohort of patients with PAD, the omega-3 index was negatively associated with biomarkers of inflammation. Our findings suggest a rationale for future studies of dietary manipulation of omega-3 index to reduce inflammation in patients with PAD.