Polyunsaturated fatty acids intake, omega-6/omega-3 ratio and mortality: Findings from two independent nationwide cohorts

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Scotland), 2019-04, Vol.38 (2), p.848-855
• Main Authors: Zhuang, Pan, Wang, Wenqiao, Wang, Jun, Zhang, Yu, Jiao, Jingjing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; China; CHNS; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet - mortality; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - analysis; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - analysis; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; NHANES; Nutrition Surveys; Omega-3 PUFA; Omega-6 PUFA; Polyunsaturated fatty acids
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.02.019

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been reported to exert pleiotropic protective effects against various chronic diseases. However, epidemiologic evidence linking specific PUFA intake to mortality has been limited and contradictory. We aim to assess the associations between specific dietary PUFA and mortality among adults in China and America, respectively. Participants from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS, n = 14,117) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES (n = 36,032)] were prospectively followed up through the year 2011. Cox regression models were used to investigate hypothesized associations. A total of 1007 and 4826 deaths accrued over a median of 14 and 9.1 years of follow-up in CHNS and NHANES, respectively. Dietary marine omega-3 PUFA was robustly associated with a reduced all-cause mortality [Hazard ratio (HR) comparing extreme categories: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61–0.89; P