Professor / President University of South Dakota School of Medicine / Fatty Acid Research Institute SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, United States
Abstract: The Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research (FORCE) Consortium conducts meta-analyses of de novo, individual-level studies of fatty acid (FA) – disease relationships using harmonized covariate and outcome definitions and bioanalytical approaches across multiple cohorts. To date, FORCE has published on the relationships between blood omega-3 and omega-6 levels and event rates for three outcomes: coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The results of these studies are summarized in the Table. Compared with individuals in the lowest quintiles for linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA), and the long chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA/DPA), those in the highest quintiles were either at significantly lower risk for suffering all of these outcomes (LA and EPA/DHA/DPA) or levels were unrelated to risk (AA). There was no evidence for increased risk for any outcome as a function of higher levels of either omega-3 or omega-6 FAs. These findings support the view that higher levels of both EPA/DHA and LA are linked with lower risk for major chronic disease outcomes. Although not an unexpected outcome for the omega-3 FAs (for which recommendations for increased intake are universally promoted), the same findings for LA argue that the same advice should apply to omega-6 fatty acids. Based on our findings, efforts to lower LA intakes should be opposed since such actions would be likely increase risk for these major chronic diseases.