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Dietary fatty acid profiles and percentage fat-free mass: Cross-sectional associations in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2017

R.P.G. Hayhoe ,
M.A.H. Lentjes ,
A.A. Mulligan ,
R.N. Luben ,
K-T. Khaw  and
A.A. Welch
R.P.G. Hayhoe
Affiliation:
Population Health and Primary Care, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ
M.A.H. Lentjes
Affiliation:
Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB1 8RN
A.A. Mulligan
Affiliation:
Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB1 8RN
R.N. Luben
Affiliation:
Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB1 8RN
K-T. Khaw
Affiliation:
Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB1 8RN
A.A. Welch
Affiliation:
Population Health and Primary Care, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ
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Abstract

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Loss of muscle mass and function progresses with age over 30 years, but accelerates in later life and may result in sarcopenia. This condition has been associated with debilitating consequences including physical disability, risk of frailty and falls, and thus a greater requirement for health and social care( Reference Welch 1 ). A number of modifiable lifestyle behaviours, including nutrition and diet, may affect muscle mass and function in older individuals( Reference Denison, Cooper, Sayer and Robinson 2 ). Dietary fat provides a significant source of energy for muscle and the balance of different fatty acids may have effects on inflammatory signalling and insulin resistance potentially involved in sarcopenia progression. Indeed, there is already some evidence of associations between fatty acid intakes and muscle measures in women( Reference Welch, MacGregor and Minihane 3 ). The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of dietary fatty acid intake and bioelectrical impedance estimated fat-free mass (as a proxy for skeletal muscle mass) in a UK population cohort of older men and women.

Analyses were conducted using data from the EPIC-Norfolk cohort of 25,639 individuals( Reference Day, Oakes and Luben 4 ). Dietary nutrient intakes were estimated from 7-day food diaries and fat-free mass by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) using a Tanita TBF531 scale. Multivariable regression (using STATA v13; Stata Corp., USA) was used to investigate percentage fat-free mass (FFM%; fat free mass ÷ total mass × 100) across sex-specific dietary intake quintiles (Q) of total fat, mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), saturated fatty acids (SFA), and the ratio of PUFA to SFA; all as percentages of total energy intake (en%).

In this population of older individuals (mean (SD) age 62·9 (9·0) years for men (n = 6350) and 61·5 (9·0) for women (n = 7990)), the mean (SD) FFM% was 76·7 (5·8) % for men and 60·9 (8·3) % for women. Significantly lower adjusted FFM% was seen in Q5 vs. Q1 for total fat and MUFA dietary intake, for both men and women, and SFA intake for men alone (see table). Although no associations of adjusted FFM% with dietary PUFA intake were evident, a positive association was seen with dietary PUFA:SFA intake for both sexes (see table).

a Adjusted for: age, smoking status, physical activity, social class, menopausal and HRT status in women, statin use, corticosteroid use, days of food diary completed, total energy intake, and protein energy intake as a percentage of total. b P value for absolute difference between Q5 vs. Q1, according to ANCOVA.

This study has shown novel evidence that dietary fatty acid intakes are significantly associated with a measure of skeletal muscle mass in both men and women. In particular the balance between PUFA and SFA dietary intakes appears to be important. Higher PUFA at equal quantities of SFA was associated with higher FFM% in this cohort. Further mechanistic analyses and controlled trials are required, but these data nevertheless suggest that optimising fatty acid dietary profiles may have utility as part of a sarcopenia prevention strategy.

References

1. Welch, A (2014) Proc Nut Soc 73, 16–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Denison, H, Cooper, C, Sayer, A, Robinson, S (2015) Clin Interv Aging 10, 859–69.Google Scholar
3. Welch, A, MacGregor, A, Minihane, A et al. (2014) J Nutr 144(3): 327–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Day, N, Oakes, S, Luben, R et al. (1999) Br J Cancer 80, 95–103.Google Scholar