Features of serum fatty acids in acute ischaemic stroke patients aged 50 years or older

Abstract

Background: Serum fatty acid (s-FA) compositions and their correlation with serum lipids (s-LPs) such as total cholesterol (T-CHO) and triglycerides (TG) have been reported in healthy young subjects. However, little is known about such features in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). The aim of our study was to investigate s-FA characteristics and their correlation with AIS in elderly patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients aged 50 years or older who were admitted between September 2015 and March 2017 within 24 h of the first AIS onset. We evaluated concentrations and compositions of s-FAs and their association with s-LPs, age, and ischaemic stroke subtypes, including large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA), small-vessel occlusion (SVO), and cardioembolism (CE) or others. Results: One hundred ninety-one patients met our inclusion criteria. Their average age was 74.4 years, mean T-CHO and median TG were 203.4 and 94.5 mg/dl, respectively, and median or mean concentrations of palmitic acid (PA), oleic acid (OlA), linoleic acid (LiA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were 680.7, 602.5, 795.2, and 136.9 μg/ml, respectively, with mean compositions of 23.7, 21.3, 27.1, and 4.4%, respectively. PA, OlA, and LiA concentrations were weakly negatively associated with age and positively correlated with TG. In LAA or SVO (LAA_SVO) and CE or others (CE_O), mean age was 71.9 and 77.4 years (p < 0.001), mean T-CHO was 213.9 and 191.2 mg/dl (p < 0.0001), median TG was 106.5 and 88.5 mg/dl (p < 0.01), median PA was 717.2 and 648.4 μg/ml (p < 0.01), median OlA was 638.2 and 567.5 μg/ml (p < 0.01), and median LiA was 844.7 and 728.5 μg/ml (p < 0.01), respectively. DHA composition was weakly positively correlated with age. There were no differences in PA, OlA, LiA, and DHA compositions between LAA_SVO and CE_O. Conclusions: In AIS elderly patients, concentrations, rather than compositions of PA, OlA, and LiA, correlated with age, TG, and ischaemic stroke subtypes. Patients with LAA_SVO were younger and had higher concentrations of PA, OlA, and LiA than those with CE_O. There were no differences in such compositions between LAA_SVO and CE_O.

The Association of Free Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids with the Severity of Depressive Symptoms in Stroke Patients

“…The bioactive form of lipoxin A4-15-epi-lipoxin A 4 (15-epi LXA 4 ) that promotes resolution of inflammation by inhibiting superoxide generation and polymorphonuclear leukocyte transmigration was found to be higher in embolic when compared to undetermined subtype of stroke [ 78 ]. It was observed that higher levels of SFA and n6 PUFA were associated with lacunar and atherosclerotic stroke, while no relationships regarding the n3 DHA and the subtypes of stroke were observed [ 79 , 80 ]. Higher levels of C14:0 myristic acid were identified in small-vessel subtypes of stroke in comparison to large-vessel and embolic ones, but in other SFAs (C15:0 pentadecanoid acid) its level was lower in small-vessel compared to undetermined type.…”

Serum Fatty Acids Are Associated with a Higher Risk of Ischemic Stroke

“…It has been established that there is a direct connection between the risk of an ischemic stroke and an individual’s metabolic and physiological status. Furthermore, the serum concentration levels of the Omega 6:Omega 3 ratio is a significant indicator of physiological dysfunction and the onset of insulin resistance in stroke survivors [ 24 ].…”

Association of Serum Fatty Acids at Admission with the Age of Onset of Acute Ischemic Stroke

“…The relationship between serum FA levels under fasting conditions and stroke has been reported [8][9][10]. However, few studies have reported on serum FA levels at the onset of ischemic events [11,12], which are typically examined under non-fasting conditions and associated with the dietary intake of TGs. Higher intake of seafood may be associated with higher n-3 PUFA levels, which is likely to reduce the risk of ischemic events.…”

“…Additionally, the wt % values of EPA and DHA are lower in subjects with CAD than in healthy controls [15]. Interestingly, in patients who experienced lacunar or atherosclerotic stroke between the ages of 50-74 years, the serum concentrations of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), n-9 monounsaturated fatty acid (n-9 MUFA), and n-6 PUFAs are elevated [11,12]. This suggests that the serum concentrations and wt % of FAs are related to the age of acute ischemic disease onset.…”