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. 2023 Sep 1;120(8):e20220598.
doi: 10.36660/abc.20220598. eCollection 2023.

Stearic Acid, but not Palmitic Acid, is Associated with Inflammatory and Endothelial Dysfunction Biomarkers in Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Gustavo Henrique Ferreira Gonçalinho  1 , Geni Rodrigues Sampaio  1 , Rosana Aparecida Manólio Soares-Freitas  1 , Nágila Raquel Teixeira Damasceno  1
Affiliations

Stearic Acid, but not Palmitic Acid, is Associated with Inflammatory and Endothelial Dysfunction Biomarkers in Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Gustavo Henrique Ferreira Gonçalinho et al. Arq Bras Cardiol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Background: Several studies have associated dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with cardiovascular risk but there are still many controversies. Most of these studies have focused on the effects of palmitic acid on circulating lipids. Stearic acid usually shows a neutral effect on blood lipids, however, there is a lack of clinical studies assessing the link with inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction markers.

Objective: To evaluate the association of red blood cell (RBC) SFA (palmitic and stearic acids) with circulating inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 79 adults of both sexes with at least one cardiovascular risk factor but without previous events (acute myocardial infarction or stroke). Plasma biomarkers - lipids, glucometabolic markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) - and RBC palmitic and stearic fatty acids were analyzed. The associations were assessed by correlation and multiple linear regression analyses, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Palmitic acid showed no significant associations with traditional cardiovascular risk factors or inflammatory markers. Stearic acid, on the other hand, was inversely correlated with blood cholesterol and triglycerides, but independently associated with hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α.

Conclusion: Stearic acid is associated with inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers in individuals with at least one cardiovascular risk factor.

Fundamento: Vários estudos têm associado o consumo de ácidos graxos saturados (AGSs) com risco cardiovascular, mas ainda existem muitas controvérsias. A maioria desses estudos avaliou os efeitos do ácido palmítico sobre lipídios circulantes. O ácido esteárico geralmente apresenta um efeito neutro sobre os lipídios sanguíneos, mas faltam estudos clínicos avaliando sua relação com marcadores de inflamação e de disfunção endotelial.

Objetivos: Avaliar a associação de AGSs das hemácias (ácido palmítico e ácido esteárico) com biomarcadores inflamatórios e de disfunção endotelial circulantes.

Métodos: Estudo transversal que incluiu 79 adultos de ambos os sexos com pelo menos um fator de risco cardiovascular, mas sem eventos prévios (infarto agudo do miocárdio ou acidente vascular cerebral). Biomarcadores plasmáticos – lipídios, marcadores glicometabólicos, proteína C ultrassensível (PCR-us), Interleucina 6 (IL-6), Interleucina 10 (IL-10), Fator de Necrose Tumoral-α (TNF-α), Proteína quimioatraente de Monócitos 1 (MCP-1) – e ácidos graxos das hemácias (ácidos palmítico e esteárico) foram analisados. As associações foram avaliadas por análises de correlações e regressões lineares múltiplas, com significância estatística estabelecida em p<0,05.

Resultados: O ácido palmítico não apresentou associações com fatores de risco cardiovasculares ou com marcadores inflamatórios. Por outro lado, o ácido esteárico foi inversamente correlacionado com PCR-us, IL-6 e TNF-α, mas independentemente associado com PCR-us, IL-6, e TNF-α.

Conclusão: O ácido esteárico está associado com biomarcadores inflamatórios e disfunção endotelial em indivíduos com um ou mais fatores de risco cardiovascular.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Potencial conflito de interesse

Não há conflito com o presente artigo.

Figures

Figura 1
Figura 1. – Gráfico do estudo.
Figura Central
Figura Central. : Ácido Esteárico (mas não o Ácido Palmítico) está Associado a Biomarcadores Inflamatórios e de Disfunção Endotelial em Indivíduos em Risco Cardiovascular
Figure 1
Figure 1. – Study flow chart.
Central Illustration
Central Illustration. : Stearic Acid, but not Palmitic Acid, is Associated with Inflammatory and Endothelial Dysfunction Biomarkers in Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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