Red blood cell polyunsaturated fatty acids and mortality in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The prognostic value of circulating polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels is unclear.

Objectives

To determine the associations between red blood cell (RBC) PUFA levels and risk for death.

Methods

This prospective cohort study included 6501 women aged 65 to 80 years who participated in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (enrolment began 1996). RBC PUFA levels were measured at baseline and expressed as a percent of total RBC PUFAs. PUFAs of primary interest were the n-3 PUFAs eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and their sum (the Omega-3 Index). PUFAs of secondary interest included the 2 major n-6 PUFAs, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, and the PUFA factor score (a calculated variable including 6 PUFAs that accounts for th

SUBMITTER: Harris WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5563382 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan - Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature