A restricted cubic spline approach to assess the association between high fat fish intake and red blood cell EPA + DHA content
Résumé
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fish, especially fatty fish, are the main contributor to eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) intake. EPA and DHA concentrations in red blood cells (RBC) has been proposed as a cardiovascular risk factor, with <4% and >8% associated with the lowest and greatest protection, respectively. The relationship between high fat fish (HFF) intake and RBC EPA + DHA content has been little investigated on a wide range of fish intake, and may be non-linear. We aimed to study the shape of this relationship among high seafood consumers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seafood consumption records and blood were collected from 384 French heavy seafood consumers and EPA and DHA were measured in RBC. A multivariate linear regression was performed using restricted cubic splines to consider potential non-linear associations. Thirty-six percent of subjects had an RBC EPA + DHA content lower than 4% and only 5% exceeded 8%. HFF consumption was significantly associated with RBC EPA + DHA content (P [overall association] = 0.021) adjusted for sex, tobacco status, study area, socioeconomic status, age, alcohol, other seafood, meat, and meat product intakes. This relationship was non-linear: for intakes higher than 200 g/wk, EPA + DHA content tended to stagnate. Tobacco status and fish contaminants were negatively associated with RBC EPA + DHA content. CONCLUSION: Because of the saturation for high intakes, and accounting for the concern with exposure to trace element contaminants, intake not exceeding 200 g should be considered.
Mots clés
Erythrocytes/*chemistry
Eicosapentaenoic Acid/*blood
Docosahexaenoic Acids/*blood
Erythrocytes/*chemistry.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid/*blood.
Aged.
Animals.
Docosahexaenoic Acids/*blood.
Adult
Aged
Animals
Female
Fishes
Food Contamination
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Middle Aged
Seafood
Adult.
Female.
Fishes.
Food Contamination.
Humans.
Linear Models.
Male.
Middle Aged.
Seafood.
Triglycerides/blood