PLASMA FACTOR-VII AND ITS RELATION TO ADIPOSE-TISSUE FATTY-ACIDS AND OTHER ATHEROGENIC RISK-FACTORS IN HEALTHY-MEN

In this study the authors examined the relationships of plasma factor VII (F-VII) to adipose tissue fatty acid composition, as an objective index of the habitual dietary fat intake, as well as to a number of ot her atherogenic risk factors in 60 healthy male volunteers (aged 38 ye ars). Significant positive correlations were found between plasma F-VI I [measured as antigen (F-VIIAg) and coagulant activity, using bovine thromboplastin (F-VIIbt)] and body mass index (BMI), waist-thigh girth ratio (WTR), cigarette smoking and plasma triglyceride concentration. After adjustment for BMI, only plasma triglycerides remained positive ly correlated with F-VII (r=0.27, P=0.03, and r=0.29, P<0.01, for F-VI Ibt and F-VIIAg respectively). A significant positive relation was fou nd between F-VII and the total proportion of fatty acid as monounsatur ated fatty acid (r=0.26, P < 0.05, for F-VIIAg), whereas inverse relat ions were found between F-VII, the total proportion of fatty acid as p olyunsaturated fatty acid (r=-0.26 and r=-0.25, P < 0.05, for F-VIIbt and F-VIIAg respectively), polyunsaturated-saturated fat ratio (r=-0.2 5, P < 0.05, for F-VIIbt) and, more significantly, between F-VII and a dipose-tissue alpha-linolenic acid (r=-0.29, P < 0.01, for F-VIIbt and r=-0.49, P < 0.001, for F-VLIAg). All these correlations remained sig nificant after matching for BMI. In a multiple linear regression analy sis, only adipose tissue alpha-linolenic acid was a negative and indep endent predictor of F-VIIAg (P=0.004) and, at borderline significance, of F-VIIbt (P=0.061) when allowance was made for BMI, WTR, smoking an d plasma triglycerides. In conclusion, this study shows significant re lations between F-VII and adipose tissue fatty acid composition in hea lthy male individuals; it supports the possibility that adipose tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids, derived from dietary intake, play a role in the relation between F-VII and coronary heart disease (CHD), thus suggesting that high dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid intake (especi ally alpha-linolenic acid) may reduce the risk for CHD by an improveme nt of a number of risk factors, including a lowering of plasma F-VII ( both activity and antigen).