Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition, lipid oxidation and inflammatory parameters in a population of fishermen

Background and Aim. Dietary fish intake affects plasma phospholipid fatty acid (FA) composition. Few data are available on the role of seafood-rich diet at lower latitudes (i.e. Adriatic sea). We evaluated the potential relationships between seafood consumption and plasma phospholipid FA composition, lipid profile, lipid oxidation and inflammatory parameters in a group of fishermen living in Chioggia, in the Northern Adriatic. Subjects and Methods. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, plasma lipid concentrations, phospholipid FA composition (relative %), apolipoprotein B and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) were determined in fasting plasma samples from 208 subjects (age 46.6±11.0 yrs., mean±SD). A food questionnaire was recorded. Results. Subjects were divided into three groups according to habitual fish consumption (0-1, 2-3 seafood-based meals per week, ≥1 seafood-based meal per day). Plasma phospholipid percentage composition of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) decreased from the lowest to the highest fish-consumption group (37.19±2.50% vs 36.05±2.62% vs 35.59±2.63%, p=0.002 ANOVA) while n-3 PUFAs increased (4.52±1.13% vs 5.24±1.52% vs 5.32±1.74%, p=0.001 ANOVA), mainly eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) FA. Lipid profile and inflammatory parameters were similar in the three groups. Considering the whole group, total n-3 PUFAs (EPA and DHA) were significantly associated with LDL cholesterol (r=0.312, p=0.001), and DHA also with ox-LDL (r=0.206, p=0.024); there was no association between n-3 PUFAs and plasma triglycerides. N-3 PUFAs (EPA and DHA) were inversely associated with leukocytes count (r=-0.245, p=0.000), while the total n-3 PUFAs shod a direct correlation with increased interleukin-6 plasma levels (r=0.168, p=0.016). Conclusions. Fish consumption modulates plasma phospholipid percentage composition of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs; habitual fish intake is not associated with an anti-atherogenic lipid profile while it may modulate a modest anti-inflammatory effect.