Association between PUFA intake and serum concentration and mortality in older adults: A cohort study

Background & aims PUFA intake is associated with reduced cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the general population; however, evidence about this association in older adults is controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between PUFA intake and serum concentration, and the association of these variables with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Methods in this cohort study, we selected 927 community dwelling adults aged ≥65 years enrolled in the InCHIANTI study from 1998 to 2000 and followed-up for 9 years. The association between PUFA intake and serum concentration was evaluated using scatterplot and Pearson correlation test; all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regressions adjusted for potential confounders. Results mean age of the population was 75 years (SD 7.3), 55% were women. There was no association between overall PUFAs, linolenic and linoleic acid intake and their serum concentration. There was no association between quartiles (Q) of PUFA intake and all-cause mortality: compared to Q1 of PUFA intake, the adjusted HR (95% CI) for overall mortality were: 1.05 (0.74–1.50) in Q2, 1.10 (0.76–1.58) in Q3, and 0.98 (0.68–1.41) in Q4; this lack of association was confirmed for cardiovascular mortality. Compared to Q1, participants in the fourth quartile of PUFA serum concentration had lower risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR [95%CI]: Q2 1.10 [0.79–1.53], Q3 0.84 [0.60–1.19], Q4 0.66 [0.44–0.995]), no association was found for cardiovascular mortality. Conclusions In our sample of community-dwelling older adults, PUFA intake is not associated with PUFA serum concentration. Interventions to modulate PUFA concentration based on dietary intake may not be effective in preventing mortality in this population.