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Frontiers in Nutrition 2022Evidence regarding associations of circulating saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with chronic diseases is mixed. The objective of this study was to determine the associations...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Evidence regarding associations of circulating saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with chronic diseases is mixed. The objective of this study was to determine the associations between total or individual SFA biomarkers and the risk of cardiometabolic diseases.
METHODS
Four electronic databases were searched from inception to March 2022. Three investigators independently assessed for inclusion and extracted data. Random-effects or fixed-effects models was used to estimate the pooled relative risks (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of total or individual SFA biomarkers, including even-chain SFAs (e.g., 14:0, myristic acid; 16:0, palmitic acid; 18:0, stearic acid), odd-chain SFAs (e.g., 15:0, pentadecanoic acid; 17:0, margaric acid) and very-long-chain SFAs (VLCSFAs; e.g., 20:0, arachidic acid; 22:0, behenic acid; 24:0, lignoceric acid), with risk of incident type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease [CVD; coronary heart disease (CHD) inclusive of stroke], CHD and stroke.
RESULTS
A total of 49 prospective studies reported in 45 articles were included. Higher concentration of circulating total SFAs was associated with an increasing risk of cardiometabolic diseases, the risk increased significantly by 50% for CVD (95%CI:1.31-1.71), 63% for CHD (95%CI:1.38-1.94), 38% for stroke (95%CI:1.05-1.82), respectively. Similarly, levels of even-chain SFAs were positively associated with higher risk of chronic diseases, with RRs ranging from 1.15 to 1.43. In contrast, the risk of cardiometabolic diseases was reduced with increasing odd-chain SFA levels, with RRs ranging from 0.62 to 0.91. A higher level of VLCSFAs corresponded to 19% reduction in CVD. Further dose-response analysis indicated that each 50% increment in percentage of total SFAs in circulating was associated with an 8% higher risk of T2D (RR: 1.08, 95%CI: 1.02-1.14) and trends toward higher risk of CVD (RR: 1.15, 95%CI: 0.98-1.34). Inverse linear relationships were observed between 17:0 biomarker and T2D or CVD risk.
CONCLUSION
Our findings support the current recommendations of reducing intake of saturated fat as part of healthy dietary patterns. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings on these SFAs in relation to cardiometabolic outcomes and to elucidate underlying mechanisms.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022329182], identifier [CRD42022329182].
PubMed: 36046138
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.963471 -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Jan 2023Recent observational studies have documented inverse associations of circulating very long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFAs), namely arachidic acid (20:0), behenic... (Review)
Review
Recent observational studies have documented inverse associations of circulating very long-chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFAs), namely arachidic acid (20:0), behenic acid (22:0), and lignoceric acid (24:0), with cardiometabolic outcomes. In addition to their endogenous production, it has been suggested that dietary intake or an overall healthier lifestyle may influence VLCSFA concentrations; however, a systematic review of the modifiable lifestyle contributors to circulating VLCSFAs is lacking. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically assess the effects of diet, physical activity, and smoking on circulating VLCSFAs. Following registration on PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) (ID: CRD42021233550), a systematic search of observational studies was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane databases up to February 2022. A total of 12 studies consisting of mostly cross-sectional analyses were included in this review. The majority of the studies documented the associations of dietary intake with total plasma or red blood cell VLCSFAs, in which a range of macronutrients and food groups were examined. Two cross-sectional analyses showed a consistent positive association between total fat and peanut intake with 22:0 and 24:0 and an inverse association between alcohol intake and 20:0 and 22:0. Furthermore, a moderate positive association between physical activity and 22:0 and 24:0 was observed. Lastly, there were conflicting results on the effects of smoking on VLCSFA. Although most studies had a low risk of bias; the findings of this review are limited by the bi-variate analyses presented in the majority of the included studies, therefore, the impact of confounding is unclear. In conclusion, although the current observational literature examining lifestyle determinants of VLCSFAs is limited, existing evidence suggests that circulating 22:0 and 24:0 may be influenced by higher total and saturated fat consumption and nut intake.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatty Acids; Life Style; Smoking; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 36811597
DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2022.10.004 -
Nutrients May 2019The effect of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) on incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) is controversial and few have systematically appraised the evidence. We conducted a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The effect of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) on incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) is controversial and few have systematically appraised the evidence. We conducted a comprehensive search of prospective studies examining these relationships that were published in PubMed, Web of Science, or EMBASE from 21 February 1989 to 21 February 2019. A total of 19 studies were included for systematic review and 10 for meta-analysis. We estimated the summarized relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) using a random (if I > 50%) or a fixed effects model (if I ≤ 50%). Although the included studies reported inconclusive results, the majority supported a protective effect of odd-chain and an adverse impact of even-chain SFAs. Meta-analysis showed that the per standard deviation (SD) increase in odd-chain SFAs was associated with a reduced risk of incident T2D (C15:0: 0.86, 0.76-0.98; C17:0: 0.76, 0.59-0.97), while a per SD increase in one even-chain SFA was associated with an increased risk of incident T2D (C14:0: 1.13, 1.09-1.18). No associations were found between other SFAs and incident T2D. In conclusion, our findings suggest an overall protective effect of odd-chain SFAs and the inconclusive impact of even- and very-long-chain SFAs on incident T2D.
Topics: Correlation of Data; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Eicosanoic Acids; Fatty Acids; Humans; Incidence; Myristic Acid; Palmitic Acid; Prospective Studies; Stearic Acids
PubMed: 31052447
DOI: 10.3390/nu11050998