Circulating B-vitamins and smoking habits are associated with serum polyunsaturated Fatty acids in patients with suspected coronary heart disease: a cross-sectional study

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 3;10(6):e0129049. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129049. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are considered to be of major health importance, and recent studies indicate that their endogenous metabolism is influenced by B-vitamin status and smoking habits. We investigated the associations of circulating B-vitamins and smoking habits with serum polyunsaturated fatty acids among 1,366 patients who underwent coronary angiography due to suspected coronary heart disease at Haukeland University Hospital, Norway. Of these, 52% provided information on dietary habits by a food frequency questionnaire. Associations were assessed using partial correlation (Spearman's rho). In the total population, the concentrations of most circulating B-vitamins were positively associated with serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but negatively with serum n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, the associations between B-vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids tended to be weaker in smokers. This could not be solely explained by differences in dietary intake. Furthermore, plasma cotinine, a marker of recent nicotine exposure, showed a negative relationship with serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but a positive relationship with serum n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In conclusion, circulating B-vitamins are, in contrast to plasma cotinine, generally positively associated with serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and negatively with serum n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with suspected coronary heart disease. Further studies should investigate whether B-vitamin status and smoking habits may modify the clinical effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid intake.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Disease / blood*
  • Coronary Disease / diagnosis
  • Coronary Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Disease / pathology
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Vessels / metabolism
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Cotinine / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / blood*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / blood*
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Regression Analysis
  • Smoking / blood*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vitamin B Complex / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6
  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Cotinine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation, the Norwegian Heart and Lung Patient Organization, the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Western Norway Regional Health Authority, the Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Johan Throne Holst Foundation for Nutrition Research and Freia Medical Research Fund, Norway. Bevital AS provided support in the form of salaries for authors OM and AU, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.