Linoleic acid in adipose tissue and risk of ischemic stroke

Background/Introduction: Linoleic acid, the predominant n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, is known to reduce plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and has been recommended for prevention of coronary heart disease. Whether linoleic acid (LA) is associated with risk of ischemic stroke has not been investigated thoroughly and the results of the few previous studies have been inconsistent.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the content of LA in adipose tissue, which is a long-term marker of endogenous exposure to LA, and the risk of ischemic stroke. Methods: The Danish cohort study Diet, Cancer and Health consists of 57,053 participants aged 50–64 years at baseline.

At enrolment, all participants had an adipose tissue biopsy taken. Information on ischemic stroke development during follow-up was obtained from The Danish National Patient Register, and cases were all validated. Cases and a random sample of 3,203 subjects, drawn from the whole cohort had their fatty acid composition determined by gas chromatography (wt%).

Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) across quartiles of LA were calculated using a weighted Cox regression analysis. Results: During a median of 13.5 years of follow-up 1,879 participants developed ischemic stroke. Adipose tissue biopsies were available on 1,755 ischemic stroke cases.

After adjusting for appropriate risk factors, adipose tissue content of LA was negatively associated with ischemic stroke. HR for ischemic stroke relative to the lowest quartile of adipose LA contents was lower across quartiles, second quartile (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.77; 1.09), third (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.71; 1.02) and fourth (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65; 0.93).

Conclusion: The risk of ischemic stroke was negatively associated with the content of LA in adipose tissue suggesting a protective effect of LA against ischemic stroke.