| dc.description.abstract | Background: The amount and type of fatty acids in the diet may influence the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Fatty acids is known to modulate the expression of genes, which could have an impact on cardiovascular disease risk. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully established.
Aim: The main aim of this study was to examine the impact of plasma fatty acids on expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in healthy subjects.
Method: Blood samples and expression level of 43 genes from 54 healthy subjects from a previous randomized controlled intervention trial were used. Subjects were divided into high and low groups based on the 70th- and 30th percentiles of total plasma omega-3 level, omega-6/omega-3 ratio and ratio of saturated fatty acid to polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Results: The results showed that nine of the 43 included genes were significantly different regulated when comparing subjects with high and low plasma omega-3 level and fatty acid ratios. The ratio of saturated fatty acid to polyunsaturated fatty acid was associated with the highest number of differently expressed genes (FABP5, CPT1A, INSIG2, SOAT1, CRAT, ACOT1 and PLIN5), followed by the plasma omega-6/omega-3 ratio (CETP and PPARG) and total plasma omega-3 level (CETP).
Conclusion: A high ratio of saturated fatty acid to polyunsaturated fatty acid modulated the expression of several genes associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. A high level of plasma omega-3 and low plasma omega-6/omega-3 ratio modulated one gene associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk, whereas a high omega-6/omega-3 ratio increased the expression of one gene associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. These results suggest that the level of plasma FAs may modulate and expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and thereby influence the CVD risk. | en_US |
