Erythrocyte Linoleic Acid Is Associated With Higher Heart Rate Variability and Better Sleep Quality: A Possible Link to Reducing Risk for Cardiometabolic Diseases

Abstract

ObjectivesCancer patients often experience poor sleep quality, an aspect of health that accelerates the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Higher intake of linoleic acid (LA: 18:2n-6) is linked with reduced risk for cardiometabolic diseases. This study has two objectives: To identify whether erythrocyte LA content is associated with sleep quality in women who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer; 2) Measure the association of erythrocyte LA with metabolism and postprandial heart rate variability (HRV). MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, erythrocyte LA levels were quantified at the same visit as measurements of body composition, self-reported sleep quality, HRV, postprandial energy metabolism and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) in women (N = 150) newly diagnosed with breast cancer. At a separate visit, cardiometabolic fitness was also measured. ResultsErythrocyte LA was positively associated with higher appendicular lean mass (ALM/BMI) and higher pre-meal heart rate variability. In addition, higher erythrocyte LA was associated with better reported overall sleep quality. Postprandially, women with higher erythrocyte LA had a steeper decline of pulse and a less steep decline of glucose. ConclusionsThe positive relationship between LA with better sleep quality and higher heart rate variability supports the need to test whether fortifying the diet with LA-rich oils lowers cardiometabolic risk in cancer patients involving the autonomic nervous system. Funding SourcesFunding was provided by the National Cattleman’s Beef Association (MAB), NIH (JKG) CA186720, Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center (MAB) and the Carol S. Kennedy Professorship (MAB).