Plasma fatty acid composition and 6-year incidence of hypertension in middle-aged adults - The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

The association of baseline fatty acid composition in plasma cholesterol es ters with 6-year incidence of hypertension was examined in middle-aged Minn eapolis participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Stud y (1987-1995). Compared with those who were never hypertensive (n = 1,975), incident hypertensives (n = 413) had statistically significantly higher ba seline levels of palmitic (16:0) and palmitoleic (16:1n7) acids but lower l evels of linoleic (18:2n6) acid and the polyunsaturated/saturated fatty aci ds ratio (P/S ratio). Among polyunsaturated fatty acids, levels of dihomo-g amma-linolenic (20:3n6) and arachidonic (20:4n6) acids were statistically s ignificantly higher in incident hypertensives, compared with normotensives. After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, smoking s tatus, ethanol intake, education level, physical activity, and baseline sys tolic blood pressure in separate models, the odds ratio estimates of incide nt hypertension for an interquartile increment of a fatty acid in cholester ol esters were 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 1.51) for 16:0, 1. 11 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.28) for 16:1n7, 1.01 (95% CI: 0.85, 1.21) for 20:3n6, 1 .14 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.27) for 20:5n3, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.96) for 18:296, and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.70, 0.99) for the P/S ratio. The authors conclude that reduced levels of linoleic acid and the P/S ratio and elevated levels of pa lmitic and arachidonic acids are associated with a higher risk of hypertens ion.