Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, fish intake and healthy ageing

Background Seafood consumption and dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) protect from cardiovascular disease, muscle wasting and mortality; however, their role in delaying unhealthy ageing is uncertain. Methods A prospective cohort study with 1592 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥60 years recruited in 2008–2010, and followed through 2015. Intake of seafood and n-3 PUFA [eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA)] was estimated using a validated diet history and food composition tables. Unhealthy ageing was assessed across the domains of physical and cognitive function, mental health, morbidity, self-rated health and vitality. Results Higher blue fish consumption was negatively associated with unhealthy ageing in 2015 [multivariate ß (95% confidence interval) per interquartile range (IQR) increase of fish: −0.49 (−0.90; −0.08)] and, specifically, was associated with lower accumulation of functional impairments [−1.00 (−1.71; −0.28)] and morbidities [−0.30 (−0.73; 0.13)]. Individuals with high intakes of EPA (≥0.47 g/day) and DHA (≥0.89 g/day) presented the highest reductions in age-related deficits accumulation: −1.61 (−3.01; −0.22) and −1.34 (−2.76; 0.08), respectively. Intake of EPA and DHA were negatively associated with the accumulation of functional deficits [results per IQR increase: −0.79 (−1.64; −0.06) and −0.84 (−1.67; −0.01), respectively] and morbidities [−0.60 (−1.10; −1.11) and −0.60 (−1.09; −0.11)]. No associations were observed between n-3 PUFA and self-rated or mental health, or between white fish and unhealthy ageing. Conclusions In this cohort of Spanish individuals with elevated intake of fish and a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, consumption of blue fish and n-3 PUFA had a prospective protective association with deficits accumulation.