Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is related to the fatty acid composition of serum lipids in healthy subjects

• The fatty acid (FA) composition of the serum lipids has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). As an attenuated endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) has been suggested as an early marker of atherosclerosis, we investigated the relationships between the proportion of FA in serum lipids (cholesterol esters and phospholipids) together with the levels of serum LDL- and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides and EDV, as well as endothelium-independent vasodilation (EIDV). Fifty-six healthy subjects (31 men and 25 women), aged between 20 and 69 years, underwent measurements of forearm blood flow (FBF) at rest and during local infusion of 2 and 4 microg/min of metacholine (Mch, evaluating EDV), 5 and 10 microg/min of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, evaluating endothelium-independent vasodilation, EIDV) using venous occlusion plethysmography. An index of endothelial function was calculated as the ratio between EDV and EIDV. The proportion of palmitic (16:0) and palmitoleic (16:1) acids were inversely related (r=-0.35 and -0.35, P<0.01 for both), while linoleic acid (18:2 n6) and the HDL-cholesterol concentration were positively related (r=0.35 and 0.36, P<0.01 for both) to the endothelial function index. In multiple regression analysis also including age and gender, palmitoleic acid and HDL-cholesterol were significant independent predictors of endothelial function. Alfa-linolenic acid (18:3 n3) was positively correlated to both EDV and EIDV (r=0.40 and 0.43, P<0.01 for both), indicating a protective effect of this essential FA on vasodilation in general. It is concluded that the FA composition of serum lipids, partly reflecting the composition of dietary fat and previously associated with the development of CVD, was associated with endothelial function in apparently healthy subjects.

Nyckelord

Adult

Aged

Blood Flow Velocity

Cross-Sectional Studies

Dose-Response Relationship; Drug

Endothelium; Vascular/drug effects/*metabolism

Fatty Acids/*blood

Female

Humans

Infusions; Intravenous

Linear Models

Lipoproteins; HDL Cholesterol/*blood

Lipoproteins; LDL Cholesterol/*blood

Male

Methacholine Chloride/administration & dosage

Middle Aged

Nitroprusside/administration & dosage

Plethysmography

Radioimmunoassay

Reference Values

Regression Analysis

Sensitivity and Specificity

Vasodilation/*drug effects/*physiology

Vasodilator Agents/*administration & dosage

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)