alpha-Linolenic acid intake is not beneficially associated with 10-y risk of coronary artery disease incidence: the Zutphen Elderly Study

Background: Data on the relation between alpha -linolenic acid intake and c oronary artery disease (CAD) are limited. Other dietary components appear t o modify the reported relation between alpha -linolenic acid intake and CAD . Objective: We examined whether dietary alpha -linolenic acid intake was inv ersely associated with risk of CAD. Design: We prospectively studied 667 men aged 64-84 y from the Zutphen Elde rly Study who were free of CAD at baseline. Dietary intake was assessed by using a cross-check dietary history method. Results: During the 10-y follow-up, we documented 98 cases of CAD. After ad justment for age, standard coronary risk factors, and intake of trans fatty acids and other nutrients, alpha -linolenic acid intake was not significan tly associated with CAD risk. The relative risk of CAD for the highest comp ared with the lowest tertile of alpha -linolenic acid intake was 1.68 (95% CI: 0.86, 3.29). alpha -Linolenic acid intake from sources containing trans fatty acids was also nonsignificantly, yet positively, associated with CAD risk. alpha -Linolenic acid intake from foods that did not contain trans f atty acids was not associated with CAD risk, the relative risk of CAD for t he highest compared with the lowest tertile was 1.15 (95% CI: 0.63, 2.11). Conclusion: We did not observe a beneficial effect of dietary alpha -linole nic acid intake on the risk of 10-y CAD incidence. Investigating this hypot hesis was complicated by the association between intakes of alpha -linoleni c acid and trans fatty acids. Given the results of current prospective stud ies, a protective cardiac effect of alpha -linolenic acid is questionable.