Blood Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Inversely Associated With Albumin-Creatinine Ratio in Young and Healthy Adults (The Omega-Kid Study)

Mark G Filipovic; Martin F Reiner; Saskia Rittirsch; Irina Irincheeva; Stefanie Aeschbacher; Kirsten Grossmann; Martin Risch; Lorenz Risch; Andreas Limacher; David Conen; Juerg H Beer

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2021.622619

Blood Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Inversely Associated With Albumin-Creatinine Ratio in Young and Healthy Adults (The Omega-Kid Study)

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Apr 27:8:622619. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.622619. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mark G Filipovic¹, Martin F Reiner^{2

3}, Saskia Rittirsch², Irina Irincheeva⁴, Stefanie Aeschbacher⁵, Kirsten Grossmann⁶, Martin Risch^{6

7}, Lorenz Risch^{6

8

9}, Andreas Limacher⁴, David Conen¹⁰, Juerg H Beer^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Anesthesiology, Cantonal Hospital of Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of Baden, Baden, Switzerland.
³ Center for Molecular Cardiology University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁴ Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁵ Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel and Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
⁶ Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch, Vaduz, Liechtenstein.
⁷ Division of Laboratory Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland.
⁸ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁹ Private University Triesen, Triesen, Liechtenstein.
¹⁰ Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Omega-3 fatty acids are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and with beneficial effects on CV risk factors. The albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) is a risk factor for CVD, all-cause mortality and accelerated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline in the general population. We aimed to investigate the association between n-3 PUFAS and ACR in heathy individuals with preserved GFR. Design and Methods: The present cross-sectional analysis is part of the GAPP study, a population-based cohort of healthy adults aged 25-41 years. Individuals with known CVD, diabetes, or a BMI >35 kg/m² were excluded. eGFR was calculated according to the combined Creatinine/Cystatin C CKD-EPI formula. ACR was obtained from a fasting morning urine sample. The Omega-3 Index (relative amount of EPA and DHA of total fatty acids in %) was obtained from whole blood aliquots. Results: Overall, 2001 participants (median age 37 years IQR 31; 40, 53% female) were included in this analysis. Median Omega-3 Index was 4.59 (IQR 4.06; 5.25) and median eGFR 111 ml/min/1.73 m² (IQR 103; 118). Median ACR was 0.14 mg/mmol (IQR 0; 0.43). We found a significant inverse association of the Omega-3 Index with ACR (ratio 0.84, 95%CI 0.73-0.96; p = 0.011) which remained after comprehensive adjustment (ratio 0.86, 95%CI 0.74-1.00; p = 0.048). No association of the Omega-3 Index with eGFR was found. The adjusted difference in eGFR per 1-unit increase in Omega3-Index was -0.21 (95%CI -0.76; 0.35; p = 0.47). Conclusions: A higher Omega-3 Index was significantly associated with lower ACR in this young and healthy population with preserved eGFR. Omega-3 fatty acids may exhibit cardio- and nephroprotective effects in healthy individuals through modulation of ACR.

Keywords: albumin-creatinine ratio; albuminuria; kidney; nutrition; omega-3-fatty acids; population; prevention.