Plasma Trans Fatty Acid Levels, Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Lifestyle: Results from the Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 Study.

Anupam Chandra,Trygve Berge,Torbjørn Omland,Helge Røsjø,Håkon Ihle-Hansen,Arnljot Tveit,Thea Vigen,Magnus Nakrem Lyngbakken,Ivar Anders Eide,Eivind Bjørkan Orstad,Erik Berg Schmidt,My Svensson,Ole Morten Rønning

doi:10.3390/nu12051419

Abstract

Intake of industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFAs) has previously been associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and inflammation, as well as increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. iTFA intake declined in Norway after the introduction of legislative bans against iTFA consumption. However, the relationship between the current iTFA intake and CV health is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between current iTFA intake, reflected by plasma iTFA levels, and established CV risk factors. We also examined the associations between plasma ruminant TFA levels and CV risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, we included 3706 participants from a Norwegian general population, born in 1950 and residing in Akershus County, Norway. The statistical method was multivariable linear regression. Plasma iTFA levels were inversely associated with serum triglycerides (p < 0.001), fasting plasma glucose (p < 0.001), body mass index (p < 0.001), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.001 and p = 0.03) and C-reactive protein (p = 0.001). Furthermore, high plasma iTFA levels were associated with higher education and less smoking and alcohol consumption. We found that plasma ruminant trans fatty acids (rTFA) levels were favorably associated with CV risk factors. Furthermore, plasma iTFA levels were inversely associated with CV risk factors. However, our results might have been driven by lifestyle factors. Overall, our findings suggest that the current low intake of iTFAs in Norway does not constitute a threat to CV health.

Highlights

Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are unsaturated fatty acids with at least one double bond in trans configuration [1]
We found no associations between plasma industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFAs) levels and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, HbA1c, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT)
The main finding in the present study was that plasma ruminant trans fatty acids (rTFA) levels were favorably associated with CV risk factors

Summary

Introduction

Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are unsaturated fatty acids with at least one double bond in trans configuration [1]. Nutrients 2020, 12, 1419 found in various industrially prepared foods, and in dairy and meat products from ruminants [1]. The first major study was published in the early ‘90 s [3], followed by numerous studies consistently reporting harmful influence of iTFAs on CV health [4,5,6,7]. The intake of iTFAs was considered a major public health problem, forcing governments around the world to take legislative action to reduce iTFA content in foods [8,9]. Cooperative efforts by food industries, voluntarily excluding iTFA-rich products from their assortment and providing better food labelling for consumers, resulted in a further reduction of iTFA consumption [1]. In 2003, the World Health Organization recommended to limit the intake of iTFAs to

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