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A case–control study of dietary and erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in asthma
Author(s) -
Broadfield E. C.,
McKeever T. M.,
Whitehurst A.,
Lewis S. A.,
Lawson N.,
Britton J.,
Fogarty A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.02032.x
Subject(s) - linoleic acid , docosahexaenoic acid , asthma , odds ratio , eicosapentaenoic acid , polyunsaturated fatty acid , medicine , fatty acid , omega 3 fatty acid , endocrinology , chemistry , food science , biochemistry
Summary Background Epidemiological evidence suggests that increased dietary ω‐6 and reduced ω‐3 fatty acid intake, may have contributed to the rising prevalence of asthma, but these hypotheses have not been tested in studies comparing both dietary intake and objective measures of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Objective To assess whether a higher intake of ω‐6 or a lower intake of ω‐3 fatty acids increases the risk of asthma, by measuring dietary fatty acid intake by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and erythrocyte membrane fatty acids, as an objective biomarker of intake. Methods We have compared individual fatty acid intake estimated by FFQ and by mass spectrometry of fasting erythrocyte cell membranes in 89 cases of asthma and 89 community‐matched controls. Results The odds of asthma were increased in relation to intake of the ω‐3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (odds ratio (OR) for difference between the 25th and 75th centiles of intake=1.89, 95% CI 1.15–3.11) and docosahexaenoic acid (OR=2.11, 95% CI 1.19–3.74). There was no evidence of any difference in erythrocyte membrane levels of ω‐3 fatty acids, while the odds of asthma were reduced in relation to linoleic acid (ω‐6) membrane levels (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.21–0.95). Conclusion These findings suggest that dietary ω‐3 fatty acids do not play a major role in protecting against asthma, and that higher levels of erythrocyte membrane linoleic acid are associated with a lower risk of asthma.