Dietary fish and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with leukocyte ABCA1 DNA methylation levels
Nutrition Available online 21 July 2020, 110951 Ryosuke Fujii
Highlights
• This is a cross-sectional study in a middle-aged and elderly population in Japan.
• Dietary fish intake was significantly associated with ABCA1 DNA methylation.
• Dietary n-3 PUFA and n-3 HUFA was inversely associated with ABCA1 methylation.
• Better fat quality was associated inversely with ABCA1 methylation.
Objective
: A diet rich in fish and n-3 PUFA has been thought to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). These beneficial effects of fish oil and n-3 PUFA on CVD can be mediated by epigenetic status of the genes associated with lipid metabolism and inflammation. We investigated whether dietary fish and fatty acid (FA) intakes are associated with leukocyte ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) DNA methylation levels in a Japanese population.
Methods
: A total of 298 subjects (137 men and 161 women) without clinical history of CVD and cancer was included in this cross-sectional study. We used the pyrosequencing method to measure leukocyte ABCA1 DNA methylation levels. Dietary fish and FA intakes were assessed based on the validated food frequency questionnaire.
Results
: Mean ABCA1 DNA methylation levels were significantly lower in the highest fish intake groups (≥5–6/wk) compared with the lowest intake group (≤1–2/wk) (p = 0.004). In multivariable linear regression analyses, higher dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) was significantly associated with decreased levels of ABCA1 DNA methylation (p = 0.001 and 0.005), while no significant associations between dietary SFA, MUFA, and n-6 PUFA intake and ABCA1 DNA methylation.
Conclusion
: Higher dietary fish and n-3 PUFA intake were associated with lower ABCA1 DNA levels in a Japanese population. Our results may bring potential insights on biological mechanisms underlying the protective effects of dietary fish and n-3 PUFA intakes on CVD.










