Investigating associations of omega-3 fatty acids, lung function decline, and airway obstruction

Abstract

Rationale: Inflammation contributes to lung function decline and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Omega–3 fatty acids have anti–inflammatory properties and may benefit lung health. Objectives: Investigate associations of omega–3 fatty acids with lung function decline and incident airway obstruction in adults of diverse races/ethnicities from general population cohorts. Methods: Complementary study designs: (1) longitudinal study of plasma phospholipid omega–3 fatty acids and repeated FEV1 and FVC measures in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Pooled Cohorts Study, and (2) two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study of genetically predicted omega–3 fatty acids and lung function parameters. Measurements and Main Results: The longitudinal study found that higher omega–3 fatty acid concentrations were associated with attenuated lung function decline in 15,063 participants, with the largest effect sizes for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). One standard deviation higher DHA was associated with an attenuation of 1.8 mL/year for FEV1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3–2.2) and 2.4 mL/year for FVC (95% CI 1.9–3.0). One standard deviation higher DHA was also associated with a 9% lower incidence of spirometry–defined airway obstruction (95% CI 0.86–0.97). DHA associations persisted across sexes, smoking histories, and Black, white and Hispanic participants, with the largest magnitude associations in former smokers and Hispanics. The MR study showed positive associations of genetically predicted omega–3 fatty acids with FEV1 and FVC, with statistically significant findings across multiple MR methods. Conclusions: The longitudinal and MR studies provide evidence supporting beneficial effects of higher circulating omega–3 fatty acids, especially DHA, on lung health.

Deciphering the Genetic Architecture of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Insights from the UK Biobank and Mendelian Randomization Analysis

“…Similarly, Yi Wei and his team applied a two-sample Mendelian randomization method to explore the connection between gut microbiota and COPD, identifying 9 bacterial taxa nominally associated with COPD risk 9 . Furthermore, Bonnie K Patchen and colleagues found that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids were associated with a slower decline in lung function through MR analysis 10 . However, there have been no reports on the systematic screening of potential genetic factors demonstrating a causal relationship with COPD through Mendelian Randomization.…”

Quantification of the Relationship of Pyridoxine and Spirometry Measurements in the United States Population

“…Lung function is crucial for overall health, as it affects daily activities and physical and mental well-being [ [1] , [2] , [3] ]. There is a push toward research that focuses on understanding factors that impact respiratory health and how they lead to changes in lung function [ 4 , 5 ].…”