Abstract MP014: Very Long Chain Saturated Fatty Acids and Diabetes Risk: Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies in the FORCE Consortium

Abstract

Background: Circulating saturated fatty acids are biomarkers of diet and metabolism that may influence the pathogenesis of diabetes. Unlike palmitic acid (16:0), which has been extensively studied, little is known of the relationship of very long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLSFAs), with 20 carbons or more, to diabetes risk. Objective: To investigate the associations of circulating levels of VLSFA with incident diabetes. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted within a consortium of prospective (cohort or nested case-control) studies having circulating measures of one or more VLSFAs, including arachidic acid (20:0), behenic acid (22:0) and lignoceric acid (24:0). Standardized analysis was conducted in each study using pre-specified models, exposures, outcomes, and covariates. Study-specific estimates were pooled using fixed effects meta-analysis. Results: Current findings were based on 9 participating studies, including 46,549 total participants and 13,750 incident diabetes. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, higher levels of all 3 VLSFAs were associated with lower risk of incident diabetes. Pooled RRs (95% CI) per interquintile range were 0.80 (0.71-0.90) for 20:0; 0.83 (0.76-0.91) for 22:0; and 0.70 (0.63-0.79) for 24:0, after adjustment for demographics, lifestyle factors and clinical conditions. Additional adjustments for circulating palmitic acid and triglyceride levels moved the RRs toward the null (illustrated for 24:0, in model 3 of the Figure ). Conclusions: Based on meta-analysis of results from several studies around the world, biomarker levels of VLSFA are associated with lower risk of incident diabetes, potentially mediated by effects on circulating triglycerides and 16:0.