The associations of individual and subclasses of non-esterified fatty acids with disability, and mobility limitation in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study

Authors: AHIAWODZI, PETER - Campbell University; BUZKOVA, PETRA - University Of Washington; LICHTENSTEIN, ALICE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; MATTHAN, NIRUPA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; IX, JOACHIM - University Of California; KIZER, JORGE - University Of California; TRACY, RUSSELL - University Of Vermont College Of Medicine; ARNOLD, ALICE - University Of Washington; NEWMAN, ANNE - University Of Pittsburgh; SISCOVICK, DAVID - New York Academy Of Medicine; DJOUSSE, LUC - Brigham & Women'S Hospital; MUKAMAL, KENNETH - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Submitted to: Journals of Gerontology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2022
Publication Date: 9/26/2022
Citation: Ahiawodzi, P., Buzkova, P., Lichtenstein, A.H., Matthan, N., Ix, J.H., Kizer, J.R., Tracy, R.P., Arnold, A., Newman, A.B., Siscovick, D., Djousse, L., Mukamal, K. 2022. The associations of individual and subclasses of non-esterified fatty acids with disability, and mobility limitation in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Journals of Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glac206.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glac206

Interpretive Summary: In the present study, we sought to determine the associations between total as well as individual non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and disability and mobility limitation in Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Circulating levels of total and individual NEFAs are potentially modifiable, making them an important target for therapy. In our population-based study of older adults, we found that higher NEFA levels were associated with higher risk of disability and mobility limitation across a wide variety of fatty acid subclasses. Individually, higher levels of the non-esterified saturated fatty acids myristic and palmitic were positively associated with activities of daily living disability and mobility limitation. Non-esterified monounsaturated fatty acids generally were associated with both higher risk of both disability and mobility limitation, as were non-esterified n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Non-esterified trans fatty acids were generally associated with higher risk of disability. In contrast, there was no significant association of marine long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and longer-chain saturated fatty acids with measures of disability. Because circulating NEFA levels are modifiable, they are a promising target for intervention to slow the progression of aging.

Technical Abstract: Background: We sought to determine the associations between individual non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and disability and mobility limitation. Methods: We studied 1734 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), an ongoing population-based cohort study of community-living older American adults. We measured 35 individual NEFA species in fasting serum samples obtained at the 1996-1997 clinic visit. Using yearly assessments of activities of daily living and self-reported mobility, we identified participants with incident disability or mobility limitation during 15 years of follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine the associations between per-SD increment in the individual NEFAs and incident disability and mobility limitations with adjustment for potential confounding factors. Results: Higher concentrations of total and a broad range of individual NEFA species were associated with risk of disability and mobility limitation [disability: HR per SD of total NEFA (SD=174.70) =1.11, 95%CI=1.04-1.18, p=0.001; mobility limitation: HR per SD of total NEFA=1.09, 95%CI=1.02-1.16, p=0.01). Among individual saturated NEFAs (SFAs), myristic (14:0) and palmitic (16:0) acids were significantly associated with higher risk of both disability and mobility limitations, but longer-chain FAs were not. Most individual monounsaturated (MUFA), n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and trans FAs were positively significantly associated with higher risks of both disability and mobility limitation. In contrast, most n-3 PUFA species were not associated with disability or mobility limitation. Conclusions: Higher risks of disability and mobility limitation were observed for pro-inflammatory intermediate-chain SFAs, MUFAs, n-6 PUFAs, and trans FAs. Our findings indicated no significant association for anti-inflammatory n-3 PUFAs.