Tani S, et al. - The link between the serum levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio, as estimated by the HDL particle size, was investigated in a hospital-based cross-sectional study including patients with the presence of one or more risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). A possible association of increased serum docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) level, but not of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) level with decreased HDL-cholesterol/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio was indicated in this study.

Methods

• In this study, researchers enrolled a total of 640 sequential patients.

Results

• A strong correlation was demonstrated by the serum levels of EPA and DHA (r = 0.736, p < 0.0001).
• Findings demonstrated that increased serum DHA (β = - 0.745,p=0.021), but not serum EPA (β = - 0.414, p=0.139) or EPA + DHA (β = 0.330, p=0.557) level was identified as an independent indicator of decreased HDL particle size in a multivariate regression analysis after adjustment for ASCVD risk factors.
• Follow-up for at least 6 months in 476 patients revealed that as the quartile of the Δ DHA level increased (p=0.014), a significant decrease was noted in the absolute change (Δ) in the HDL-cholesterol/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio, whereas no significant difference in the Δ HDL-cholesterol/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio was noted with the increase in the quartile of the Δ EPA level.
• Furthermore, increased DHA level and decreased estimated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size measured relative to the mobility value of LDL with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (i.e., relative LDL migration: LDL-Rm value) were identified as independent predictors of decreased HDL-cholesterol/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio (β = - 0.171, p=0.0003 and β = - 0.142, p=0.002) in a multivariate regression analysis.