Long‐chain fatty acids in sarcopenia patients with cardiovascular diseases: importance of n‐9 monounsaturated fatty acids

Abstract

BackgroundLong‐chain fatty acids are essential components of the cellular energy supply, cellular membranes, and autacoid synthesis. It has been suggested that long‐chain fatty acids might be involved in the pathophysiology underlying sarcopenia. We investigated the association between sarcopenia and serum long‐chain fatty acid profile in patients with cardiovascular diseases.MethodsWe retrospectively investigated 308 cardiovascular patients [age: 72 ± 12 (mean ± SD), 174 male patients] admitted to our hospital. All patients were evaluated by sarcopenia diagnostic tests and serum free fatty acid analyses.ResultsSeventy‐seven patients (25%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Serum fatty acid weight percentages of nervonic acid and erucic acid were elevated in patients with sarcopenia compared with those without. Nervonic acid, which was an independent factor for sarcopenia in binary logistics regression analysis (B = 2.559, p < 0.001), correlated negatively with skeletal muscle index (r = −0.331, p < 0.001), gait speed (r = −0.387, p < 0.001), and handgrip strength (r = −0.372, p < 0.001). These significant relationships were confirmed in subgroup analyses stratified by age and gender. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the cut‐off of nervonic acid weight percentage for diagnosis of sarcopenia was 1.37% with a sensitivity and specificity of 76.6% and 65.1%, respectively.ConclusionsNervonic acid, an n‐9 monounsaturated fatty acid, might serve as a new marker for sarcopenia in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Further studies with larger patient numbers will be needed to determine the roles of long‐chain fatty acids in sarcopenia.

Assessment of the bioactive lipid profiles of oil extracted from Tunisian table olive cultivars (Barouni, Besbassi, and Marsaline cvs.)

“…Numerous clinical studies have reported that a higher proportion of monounsaturated fats in the diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases through decreasing low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels in the blood. [ 6 ] In addition, Table 1 show that the table olives contain a considerable amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as linoleic (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3). The percentage of PUFA was significantly different among the three Tunisian cultivars ( p < 0.05).…”

“…In fact, clinical studies proved that a higher proportion of monounsaturated fats in the diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by decreasing low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels in the blood. [ 6 ] Essential fatty acids, linoleic (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3), are the precursors of the biosynthesis of longer chain PUFA, eicosapentaenoic (C20:5), and docosahexaenoic (C22:6) acids, which are the main constituents of the neural cell membrane. [ 7 ] In addition to the glyceridic components, vegetable matrices regroup several unsaponifiable compounds such as sterols, triterpenic alcohols and policosanol, which display important biological activities.…”

Relationship between monounsaturated fatty acids and sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

“…The studies were published between 2006 and 2021. The countries in which the studies were conducted were Spain [ 29 , 31 ], Brazil [ 32 , 33 ], Japan [ 36 , 38 ], Canada [ 30 ], Iran [ 34 ], Finland [ 35 ], the Netherlands [ 39 ], and UK [ 40 ], and one study was conducted in multiple European countries [ 37 ]. All studies included both men and women, except for one study that included only men [ 35 ] and one that included only women [ 30 ].…”

“…The diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia were the EWGSOP [ 31 ], the EWGSOP2 [ 33 – 35 , 37 , 39 ], the AWGS [ 36 , 38 ], and other diagnostic criteria [ 29 , 30 , 32 , 40 ]. Seven of the included studies diagnosed confirmed/severe sarcopenia [ 31 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 38 – 40 ], and two studies determined probable sarcopenia among the participants [ 34 , 35 ]. Additionally, Abete 2019 calculated sarcopenic index [ 29 ].…”

“…Two studies measured circulatory MUFA levels [ 36 , 39 ], whereas the remaining ten studies estimated dietary intake of MUFA. The dietary MUFA were determined by food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) [ 29 , 34 ], 24-h dietary recall [ 31 , 33 ], 3-day food diary [ 35 , 40 ], 7-day food diary [ 37 ], dietary recall questionnaires [ 32 ], and brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) [ 38 ].…”