Subclinical atherosclerosis is associated with incident atrial fibrillation:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims Coronary artery disease is an established risk factor for incident atrial fibrillation (AF), but it is unclear whether subclinical atherosclerosis also increases the risk of incident AF. Therefore, the aim was to assess the association between subclinical atherosclerosis, defined by increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) or coronary artery calcium score (CACS), and incident AF. Methods and results A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane was done to find all cohort studies investigating the association between subclinical atherosclerosis, defined by increased cIMT or CACS, and incident AF. Eligible articles had to be available in an English full-text version; include adults over the age of 18years; include >= 100 participants; and have a follow-up period >= 12months. Data on cIMT were pooled using a fixed-effects model, while data on CACS (I-2 >25) were pooled using a random-effects model. Five studies on cIMT including 36 333 patients and two studies on CACS including 34 603 patients were identified. All studies investigating the association between increased cIMT and incident AF showed a significant association, with an overall hazard ratio (HR) of 1.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-1.59]. The two studies investigating the association between increased CACS and AF also showed a significant association with an overall HR of 1.07 (95% CI 1.02-1.12). Conclusion Data from seven observational studies suggest that subclinical atherosclerosis defined by increased cIMT or CACS is associated with an increased risk of incident AF. These findings emphasize the need for further research investigating whether treatment of subclinical atherosclerosis should be a part of the initiatives to prevent AF

Association between carbohydrate intake and fatty acids in the de novo lipogenic pathway in serum phospholipids and adipose tissue in a population of Swedish men

Purpose Fatty acid composition in blood and adipose tissue (AT) is a useful biomarker of dietary fat quality. However, circulating saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) have been proposed to also reflect carbohydrate-induced de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity. We aimed to test the hypothesis that high carbohydrate intake is related to SFA and MUFA in serum or AT in a Swedish population. Methods Fatty acid composition was measured in serum phospholipids (PL) and AT by gas chromatography in 63-year-old men (n = 299). Carbohydrate and alcohol intake was assessed (validated 7-day food records) in relation to total SFA, 16:0 (palmitate), 16:1 (palmitoleate), and estimated SCD activity (16:1n-7/16:0-ratio) in serum PL and in AT, respectively. Results Total carbohydrate intake was inversely associated with 16:0 in PL (P = 0.005), independently of BMI. Disaccharides were non-linearly (restricted cubic splines) and weakly associated with 16:1 and SCD activity in PL (nonlinear trend,P <= 0.02) but not AT. Carbohydrate intake and SCD expression were not associated (P >= 0.08,n = 81). Alcohol intake was, however, linearly associated with 16:0 in PL (P < 0.001), and with 16:1 (P < 0.001) and SCD activity (P <= 0.005) in both PL and AT. Conclusions Higher carbohydrate intake from sugar-rich foods or beverages was not clearly reflected by higher SFA or SCD activity in serum PL or AT. Alcohol was, however, associated with higher SFA and MUFA

Serum Fatty Acids, Desaturase Activities and Abdominal Obesity - A Population-Based Study of 60-Year Old Men and Women

Abdominal obesity is a key contributor of metabolic disease. Recent trials suggest that dietary fat quality affects abdominal fat content, where palmitic acid and linoleic acid influence abdominal obesity differently, while effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are less studied. Also, fatty acid desaturation may be altered in abdominal obesity. We aimed to investigate cross-sectional associations of serum fatty acids and desaturases with abdominal obesity prevalence in a population-based cohort study. Serum cholesteryl ester fatty acids composition was measured by gas chromatography in 60-year old men (n = 1883) and women (n = 2015). Cross-sectional associations of fatty acids with abdominal obesity prevalence and anthropometric measures (e.g., sagittal abdominal diameter) were evaluated in multivariable-adjusted logistic and linear regression models, respectively. Similar models were employed to investigate relations between desaturase activities (estimated by fatty acid ratios) and abdominal obesity. In logistic regression analyses, palmitic acid, stearoyl-CoA- desaturase and Delta 6-desaturase indices were associated with abdominal obesity; multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for highest versus lowest quartiles were 1.45 (1.19-1.76), 4.06 (3.27-5.05), and 3.07 (2.51-3.75), respectively. Linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, docohexaenoic acid, and Delta 5-desaturase were inversely associated with abdominal obesity; multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals): 0.39 (0.32-0.48), 0.74 (0.61-0.89), 0.76 (0.62-0.93), and 0.40 (0.33-0.49), respectively. Eicosapentaenoic acid was not associated with abdominal obesity. Similar results were obtained from linear regression models evaluating associations with different anthropometric measures. Sex-specific and linear associations were mainly observed for n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids, while associations of the other exposures were generally non-linear and similar across sexes. In accordance with findings from short-term trials, abdominal obesity was more common among individuals with relatively high proportions of palmitic acid, whilst the contrary was true for linoleic acid. Further trials should examine the potential role of linoleic acid and its main dietary source, vegetable oils, in abdominal obesity prevention

Associations of serum fatty acids with abdominal obesity¹^,².

<p>Associations of serum fatty acids with abdominal obesity<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170684#t003fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>^,<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170684#t003fn002" target="_blank">²</a>.</p

Associations of estimated desaturase activities with abdominal obesity¹.

<p>Associations of estimated desaturase activities with abdominal obesity<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170684#t004fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p

Anthropometrics, clinical measurements, lifestyle factors, serum cholesteryl ester FA, and estimated desaturase activity in the 60-year old men and women.

<p>Anthropometrics, clinical measurements, lifestyle factors, serum cholesteryl ester FA, and estimated desaturase activity in the 60-year old men and women.</p

Associations of estimated desaturase activities with anthropometric measures.¹^,².

<p>Associations of estimated desaturase activities with anthropometric measures.<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170684#t005fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>^,<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170684#t005fn002" target="_blank">²</a>.</p

Associations of serum fatty acids with abdominal obesity¹.

<p>Associations of serum fatty acids with abdominal obesity<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170684#t002fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p