Dietary Fatty Acids Raise Hypertension Risk In Diabetics

Researchers in Japan have found that dietary fatty acid intake in diabetic patients may increase hypertension risk.

AsianScientist (Mar. 5, 2019) – In a study published in the journal Nutrients, scientists in Japan have shown that while dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids can lower the risk of hypertension in healthy individuals, they elevate the risk of hypertension in diabetics.

Hypertension is an important public health problem that can lead to life-threatening cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke. Many studies have attempted to understand the complex relationship between dietary factors and hypertension. However, the interaction between hypertension and dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids remains poorly described.

In this study, scientists led by Professor Hiroyuki Nakamura of Kanazawa University, Japan, used blood pressure measurements and a diet history questionnaire to identify how dietary n-6 fatty acid intake affects hypertension.

“There have been conflicting reports of the relationship between dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids and risk of hypertension,” said Nakamura. “Metabolites of n-6 fatty acids can lower blood pressure in a manner influenced by blood glucose levels. Therefore, we suspected that the relationship between dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids and risk of hypertension might be affected by glucose tolerance, which is impaired in patients with diabetes.”

The researchers found that the relationship between dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids and hypertension differed according to whether subjects had diabetes. In healthy subjects, high intake of n-6 fatty acids was inversely associated with hypertension, whereas high intake of n-6 fatty acids was significantly associated with hypertension in subjects with diabetes.

In addition to the reduction of hypertension associated with increased dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids by healthy individuals, the researchers showed no benefit, and possible hypertension-related harm, from increased dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids by patients with diabetes.

“Our analyses revealed a relationship between dietary intake of n-6 fatty acids and glycated hemoglobin in the blood (our definition of diabetes), which has not been previously established,” said Nakamura. “A previous meta-analysis showed that higher intake of a diet rich in linoleic acid—the main fatty acid in the n-6 fatty acids class—was significantly associated with higher risks of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and coronary heart disease in subjects with cardiovascular disease. Therefore, our results indicate that n-6 fatty acid intake may have no cardiovascular benefit in subjects who are at risk for cardiovascular disease or diabetes.”



The article can be found at: Nakamura et al. (2018) Relationship between Dietary n-6 Fatty Acid Intake and Hypertension: Effect of Glycated Hemoglobin Levels.

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Source: Kanazawa University; Photo: Shutterstock.
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