A low ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been associated with cardiovascular
events. However, the effects of this ratio on coronary atherosclerosis have not been
fully examined. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the correlations
between the n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio and coronary atherosclerosis.
Coronary atherosclerosis in nonculprit lesions in the percutaneous coronary intervention
vessel was evaluated using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound in 101 patients
at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention and 8 months after statin therapy.
Forty-six patients (46%) showed atheroma progression and the remaining 55 patients
(54%) showed atheroma regression at 8-month follow-up. Significant negative correlations
were observed between percentage change in plaque volume and change in the eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA)/arachidonic acid (AA) ratio (r = −0.190, p = 0.05), docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA)/AA ratio (r = −0.231, p = 0.02), and EPA+DHA/AA ratio (r = −0.240, p = 0.02).
Furthermore, percentage change in the fibrous component volume was negatively and
significantly correlated with change in the EPA/AA ratio (r = −0.206, p = 0.04) and
EPA+DHA/AA ratio (r = −0.217, p = 0.03). Multivariate regression analysis showed that
change in the EPA+DHA/AA ratio was a significant predictor of percentage change in
plaque volume and fibrous component volume (β = −0.221, p = 0.02, and β = −0.200,
p = 0.04, respectively). In conclusion, decreases in serum n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated
fatty acid ratios are associated with progression in coronary atherosclerosis evaluated
using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound in statin-treated patients with coronary
artery disease.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: October 04, 2012
Accepted:
August 27,
2012
Received in revised form:
August 27,
2012
Received:
July 23,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.