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Association between plasma trans fatty acids concentrations and leucocyte telomere length in US adults

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 72, pages 581–586 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

To assess the relationship between plasma trans-fatty acids (TFAs) levels and leucocyte telomere length (TL) in a US adult population sample.

Subjects/methods

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database was used for this study. Gas chromatography was used to separate derivatised fatty acids (Four major TFAs [palmitelaidic acid (C16:1n–7t), trans vaccenic acid (C18:1n–7t), elaidic acid (C18:1n–9t), and linoelaidic acid (C18:2n–6t,9t)]) which were then quatified using negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Data analyses used multivariable linear regressions, while accounting for the survey design.

Results

A total of 5446 eligible participants, with 46.8% (n = 2550) being men, were included. Their average age was 47.1 years for the total sample, and 47.8 and 46.5 years in men and women respectively (p = 0.085 for men vs. women difference). Concentrations of palmitelaidic acid and linolelaidic acid decreased with increasing length of the telomere (p < 0.05). Univariable linear regressions revealed a significant negative association between levels of the palmitelaidic acid, elaidic acid, vaccenic acid, and linolelaidic acid with TL. However when models were adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education, marital status, sub-clinical inflammation, body mass index, and smoking, only palmitelaidic acid and linolelaidic acid remained significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

TFAs levels and particularly palmitelaidic and linolelaidic acids, are likely negatively associated with telomere lenght. Future studies should explore the potential implications of these associations.

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Acknowledgements

MM was supported by a TWAS studentship of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key State Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Mohsen Mazidi

  2. Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, International College, The University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100101, China

    Mohsen Mazidi

  3. Department of Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland

    Maciej Banach

  4. Non-Communicable Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Andre Pascal Kengne

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Correspondence to Mohsen Mazidi.

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Mazidi, M., Banach, M. & Kengne, A.P. Association between plasma trans fatty acids concentrations and leucocyte telomere length in US adults. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 581–586 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-017-0065-y

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