Platelet phospholipid n −3 PUFA negatively associated with plasma homocysteine in middle-aged and geriatric hyperlipaemia patients

Abstract Studies showed that increased dietary intake of n −3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has a cardiovascular beneficial effect. Increased plasma phospholipid (PL) docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n −3) is associated with decreased plasma homocysteine (Hcy). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between platelet PL fatty acid and plasma Hcy in middle-aged and geriatric hyperlipaemia patients (50 males, 31 females) and 65 healthy subjects (43 males, 22 females) in Hangzhou, China. Plasma Hcy demonstrated significant positive correlation with adrenic acid (22:4 n −6) ( r = 0.188 , P = 0.018 ) and negative correlation with 22:6 n −3 ( r = – 0.277 , P = 0.001 ) and the ratio of n −3/ n −6 ( r = – 0.231 , P = 0.003 ) in sex-, age- and BMI-controlled partial correlation analysis. The present results suggest that increased ratio of n −3/ n −6 PUFA in platelet PL is associated with decreased thrombotic risks such as plasma Hcy in middle-aged and geriatric hyperlipaemia patients in Hangzhou.