Relationship between saturated fatty acid intake and hypertension and oxidative stress

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake and hypertension and oxidative stress.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among the residents of Shika town, a rural area in Japan, using health examination data received between March 2014 and January 2016. Dietary intake was measured using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels were used to assess oxidative stress and were measured with an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. We defined hypertension as the use of antihypertensive medication and/or blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher, and elderly as subjects aged 65 years or older.

Results: Subjects comprised 585 Japanese individuals aged 40 years and older. The prevalence of hypertension was 54.2%. SFA intake was lower in hypertensive subjects and this relationship was significantly stronger for elderly subjects. A multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustments for various confounding factors revealed that SFA intake, such as total SFA, C8:0, C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, C17:0, C18:0, C20:0, and C22:0, was inversely related to hypertension in elderly subjects. It also showed that lower urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels correlated with a high intake of SFA, C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, and C12:0.

Conclusions: Our results support a relationship existing between SFA intake and hypertension and oxidative stress, and suggest that the regular consumption of SFA contributes to the prevention and treatment of hypertension in elderly patients.

Keywords: blood pressure; elderly and population study; hypertension; nutrition; oxidative stress; saturated fatty acid.