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Association of fatty acids in serum phospholipids with lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in adults

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Abstract

Background The dietary intake of certain fatty acids might have an impact on inflammatory processes in the lung and therefore contribute to the development of lung diseases like asthma or COPD. Methods In this study data from a population based cross-sectional study on respirator y health including measurement of fatty acids in serum phospholipids of 593 adults between 20 and 64 years of age were analyzed. Results Statistically significant positive associations were found between percentage predicted FEV1 (P = 0.0085) and FVC (P = 0.0267) and docosahexaenoic acid concentration in serum phospholipids in men. Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid content in serum phospholipids was significantly negatively associated with percentage predicted FEV1 (P = 0.0003) and FVC (P = 0.0045) and transformed dose-response slopes (P = 0.0488) in men. Palmitoleic acid was negatively associated with percentage predicted FEV1 (P = 0.0037) and FVC (P = 0.0029) in men. Other fatty acids in serum phospholipids did not consistently affect lung function parameters or bronchial hyperreactivity. Conclusion A high concentration of docosahexaenoic acid in serum phospholipids may have a protective effect on lung function. Because this long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid is almost exclusively derived from marine oils, fish might have a beneficial effect on lung diseases.

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Abbreviations

BHR:

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

LTB4 :

Leukotriene B4

PGE2 :

Prostaglandin E2

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

FEV1 :

Forced exspiratory volume in one second

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

ECRHS:

European community respiratory health survey

DRS:

Dose-response slope

TDRS:

Transformed dose-response slope

OR:

Odds ratio

β:

Regression coefficient

SE:

Standard error

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

wt/wt:

Weight/weight

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Acknowledgments

Sources of Support: Financially supported in part by German Research Council (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), Bonn, HEI 3294/1–1 and KO 912/8–1.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Epidemiology, GSF – National Research Center for Environment and Health, P.O. Box 1129, 85758, Neuherberg, Germany

    Iris Kompauer & Joachim Heinrich

  2. Institute of Medical Data Management, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Iris Kompauer

  3. Division of Epidemiology & Health Reports, District of Stuttgart Government, State Health Office Baden-Wuerttemberg, Nordbahnhofstrasse 135, 70191, Stuttgart, Germany

    Iris Kompauer

  4. Division of Metabolic Disorders and Nutrition, Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital, Munich, Germany

    Hans Demmelmair & Berthold Koletzko

  5. Department of Environmental Health, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany

    Gabriele Bolte

  6. Unit of Human Nutrition and Cancer Prevention, TU Munich, Germany

    Jakob Linseisen

  7. Division of Clinical Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany

    Jakob Linseisen

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  1. Iris Kompauer
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  2. Hans Demmelmair
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  6. Joachim Heinrich
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Correspondence to Iris Kompauer.

Additional information

Authors contribution:

Iris Kompauer did the data analysis and wrote the paper.

Hans Demmelmair did laboratory work.

Berthold Koletzko did interpretation and discussion.

Gabriele Bolte did acquisition of funding, interpretation and discussion.

Jakob Linseisen did interpretation and discussion.

Joachim Heinrich did design, interpretation and discussion.

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Kompauer, I., Demmelmair, H., Koletzko, B. et al. Association of fatty acids in serum phospholipids with lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in adults. Eur J Epidemiol 23, 175–190 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-007-9218-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-007-9218-y

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