Association between intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the metabolic syndrome and its components among adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Limited observational studies have investigated the association between dietary PUFAs and the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the dietary ω-3 fatty acids including α-linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and ω-6 PUFAs, the interaction and ratio of these dietary PUFAs and the metabolic syndrome and its components.

This was a population-based cross-sectional study within the framework of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, conducted on 2457 participants with mean age of 39.1 ± 13.4 years. Information about the intake of different polyunsaturated fatty acids by the participants was obtained through a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride and HDL cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure were measured. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to recommended by the Adult Treatment Panel III.

After controlling for potential confounders, multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of hypertriglyceridemia between highest and lowest intake of dietary PUFAs were 0.58 for ω-6 fatty acids, 0.61 for ALA, and 0.51 for EPA + DHA. Inverse relationship was found between abdominal obesity and intake of ALA, (OR=0.54) and, ω-3 fatty acids, (0.52). Higher intakes of ω-6 fatty acids and ALA were associated with lower frequency of the metabolic syndrome. Higher ALA intake was associated with a 28% lower risk of the metabolic syndrome among subjects irrespective of their intake of ω-6 fatty acids.

ALA intake reduced the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, irrespective of intake of ω-6 fatty acids. More studies are needed to determine the association between dietary source of these fatty acids and the metabolic syndrome and its components.