Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and age-related physical performance decline. Rejuvenation Res

Abstract Due to supporting evidence that dietary patterns may have a significant role in the maintenance of good physical performance with aging, we tested whether plasma fatty acids, saturated fatty acids (SFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids are cross-sectionally associated with different physical performance and predict changes in physical performance over a 3-year period. Data were from the InCHIANTI study, a populationbased study of older Italians. Plasma fatty acids were measured at enrollment (1998)(1999)(2000), and outcome variables, Summary Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and time to walk 7 meters (m) were measured at enrollment and after 3 years (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004). At enrollment, 330 participants had significantly impaired lower extremity performance (defined as a SPPB score Յ9). Adjusting for age, participants with a SPPB score Ͼ9 had higher levels of total PUFA, n-3 PUFA, and n-6 PUFA, while significantly lower levels of SFA than those with a SPPB score Ͻ9. Baseline SPPB scores were also associated with n-3 PUFA (␤ ϭ 0.148, p ϭ 0.031), whereas the 7-m walk time was associated with total PUFA (␤ ϭ Ϫ0.068, p ϭ 0.008), after adjusting for potential confounders. Of the 884 participants with a SPPB score Ͼ9 at baseline, 114 (12.9%) developed impaired lower extremity performance (SPPB Յ9). In fully adjusted logistic models, baseline n-3 PUFA levels were inversely related to the risk of developing a decline in SPPB to Յ9 (odds ratio [OR] ϭ 0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] ϭ 0.08-0.53), while the n-6/n-3 ratio was associated with a higher risk of SPPB decline to Յ9 (OR ϭ 5.23; 95% CI ϭ 2.02-13.51). In multivariate regression models, the n-6/n-3 ratio was associated with a longer time to walk 7 m ( ␤ ϭ 0.396, p ϭ 0.037). n-3 PUFA plasma levels, which most likely reflect dietary intake, seem to protect against accelerated decline of physical performance. A higher n-6/n-3 ratio was associated with higher risk of developing poor physical performance and slower walking speed. 2