Work

Associations of Serum n–6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Concentrations with Heart Rate-Corrected QT and JT Intervals in Middle-Aged Males

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although n-6 (ω-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly the main n-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA), have been shown to be inversely related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, their associations with ventricular repolarization, a marker of ventricular arrhythmias, remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationships between serum n-6 PUFA concentrations and heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) and JT (JTc) intervals. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1420 Finnish males (aged 42-60 y) free of CVD from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Fasting serum n-6 PUFA concentrations were determined by gas chromatography, and electrocardiographic intervals were automatically derived. QTc and JTc intervals were calculated using Bazett's formula. Associations were analyzed using multivariable-adjusted analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Higher serum total n-6 PUFA concentrations were associated with shorter QTc and JTc intervals [QTc, extreme-quartile difference: -3.36 ms; 95% confidence interval (CI): -6.69, -0.41; P-trend = 0.02; JTc, extreme-quartile difference: -3.38 ms; 95% CI: -6.79, -0.27; P-trend = 0.03]. Similar inverse associations were found for serum LA (QTc: -4.64 ms; 95% CI: -8.00, -1.27; P-trend = 0.009; JTc: -3.99 ms; 95% CI: -7.44, -0.54; P-trend = 0.02). The other n-6 PUFAs-γ-linolenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid-showed no significant associations. CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum total n-6 PUFA and LA concentrations are associated with shorter QTc and JTc intervals, suggesting a potential protective effect on ventricular arrhythmias.

Source: Journal of Nutrition

DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.09.012