Research Article

Associations of Plasma Phospholipid Omega-6 and Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels and MRI Measures of Cardiovascular Structure and Function: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Table 2

Relation between plasma phospholipid omega-6 fatty acid levels and measures of cardiac structure and function.‡,*

MeasurePlasma AA (n)§Plasma LA (n)§
Q1Q2Q3Q4PQ1Q2Q3Q4P
n = 319n = 319n = 320n = 318trendn = 324n = 316n = 318n = 318trend

Aortic distensibility, 10(−3) mmHg(−1)1.251.251.221.230.41.231.251.241.230.98
LV mass, grams143.3144.4145.8143.80.62144.2144.4145.7142.80.69
LV mass : volume0.120.110.110.140.640.130.130.120.120.70
Ejection fraction, %68.3268.0568.0168.610.6768.9968.6667.5268.010.02
Stroke volume, mL84.9286.1086.8283.860.6486.3085.3285.5784.270.20

Multivariate linear regression analysis with adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, BMI, current smoking status, education level, site, and total : HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and total energy intake.
*AA, arachidonic acid; LA, linoleic acid; LV, left ventricular.
§Sample sizes are for each plasma phospholipid quartile associated with LV mass, LV mass/volume ratio, ejection fraction, and stroke volume.
Sample sizes for each plasma phospholipid quartile associated with aortic distensibility varied slightly due to fewer available aortic distensibility measures and were as follows for AA: Q1 = 204, Q2 = 232, Q3 = 140, Q4 = 238 and for LA: Q1 = 255, Q2 = 227, Q3 = 223, Q4 = 209.