Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition in ischemic stroke: Importance of docosahexaenoic acid in the risk for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis

Yong Jae Kim, Oh Yoen Kim, Yoonsu Cho, Ji Hyung Chung, Young Sang Jung, Geum Sook Hwang, Min Jeong Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: While data on the relationship between fatty acid (FA) composition and the risk for total stroke have accumulated, the association between FA composition and the risk for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) has never been studied. We compared plasma phospholipid FA composition between non-stroke control and ischemic stroke in Korean population, to discern the FA that distinguishes ICAS from total ischemic stroke patients. Methods: Non-stroke controls (n = 215) and stroke patients (no cerebral atherosclerotic stenosis, NCAS: n = 144 and ICAS: n = 104) were finally included in the analysis. Plasma phospholipid FA compositions were analyzed. Results: Age, coexistence of hypertension/diabetes were significantly different among the groups. Phospholipid FA compositions were significantly different between non-stroke control and ischemic stroke patients, and interestingly, between NCAS and ICAS in stroke patients. Pattern analysis showed that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the ω3-polyunsaturated FAs were important FAs in distinguishing NCAS and ICAS in strokes. Particularly, the risk of ICAS was inversely associated with levels of DHA contents in phospholipids (OR: 0.590, 95% CI: 0.350-0.993, p < 0.05), indicating that the risk may be increased at lower levels of DHA contents. Conclusion: DHA and EPA are important FAs for distinguishing NCAS and ICAS in strokes. Additionally, the risk of ICAS was inversely associated with the levels of phospholipid DHA, which indicates that sufficient amounts of DHA in plasma or in diet may reduce the risk of ICAS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)418-424
Number of pages7
JournalAtherosclerosis
Volume225
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Dec

Keywords

  • Docosahexaenoic acid
  • Fatty acid
  • Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis
  • Ischemic stroke

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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