Association between the intake of dietary n3 and n6 fatty acids and stroke in US adults: A cross-sectional study of NHANES 2007–2018

BACKGROUND: The association between the intake of dietary n3 and n6 fatty acids and the risk of stroke is subject to debate. The primary objective of the present research was to establish the correlation in a large sample of American adults. METHODS: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2018, the association of the intake of dietary n3 and n6 fatty acids with stroke events was analyzed in a sample of 29,459 adults. The intake of n3 and n6 fatty acids intake was assessed though two 24-h dietary recalls. Stroke outcomes were identified based on the responses provided in self-reported questionnaire. Logistic regression was fitted to evaluate the correlation of dietary n3, n6 fatty acids intake with stroke events. RESULTS: Subjects in the highest tertile (T3) of dietary n3 (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49–0.93), n6 (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45–0.95) fatty acids intake were found to have obviously lower risk of stroke compared to those in the lowest tertile (T1), but the n6:n3 ratio was not found to be associated with a stroke event. Results from stratified analysis demonstrated that dietary n3 fatty acids had an inverse correlation of stroke in both male and female, but dietary n6 fatty acids only had this correlation in male. Moreover, findings were made that the interaction was significant in terms of age in the subgroup analysis, and the negative relationship between the intake of dietary n3 and n6 fatty acids and stroke event were particularly pronounced among participants aged ≥60. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggested that increased dietary n3, n6 fatty acids intake correlated with a lower risk of stroke.