Abstract WP205: Long-chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Intake and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Risk in a General Japanese Population: NIPPON DATA80

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Western populations, long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCn3FAs) intake was shown to be inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly that of cardiac disease. Dietary intake of LCn3FAs among Japanese is generally higher than those of Western populations due to their higher intake of fish and shellfish. However, little is known regarding whether an inverse association exists in a population with higher LCn3FAs intake. Furthermore, evidence for association with stroke risk has been limited. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between LCn3FAs intake and the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke in a Japanese general population. METHODS: We followed-up a total of 9,190 community-dwelling individuals (56.1% women, mean age of 50.0 years) randomly selected from 300 areas across Japan and free from cardiovascular diseases at baseline. Dietary LCn3FAs intake was estimated using household weighed food records. Cox models were used to calculate multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) according to sex specific quartiles of LCn3FAs intake. HRs were adjusted for age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, dietary sodium and other nutritional factors. RESULTS: During 24 years of follow-up, 879 cardiovascular deaths were observed. The median daily intake of LCn3FAs was 0.37%kcal. Median value of the lowest quartile of LCn3FAs intake (0.18%kcal) in the present study was twice as high as the average intake in U.S. population. Adjusted HR for cardiovascular disease mortality was lower in the highest quartile of LCn3FAs intake (HR 0.80; 95%CI, 0.66-0.96) compared with the lowest quartile, and the trend was significant ( P =0.038). The similar but statistically non- significant trends were observed for cardiac death and stroke death. CONCLUSIONS: In a representative sample of Japanese with high LCn3FAs intake, the risk of total cardiovascular disease mortality was inversely and independently associated with LCn3FAs intake, and the risk of stroke also showed similar tendency.