EFAs May Reduce Pneumonia Risk 36058

EFAs May Reduce Pneumonia Risk

BOSTON--According to a study published in the September issue of the AmericanJournal of Clinical Nutrition www.ajcn.org(82, 3:668-674, 2005), researchers examiningthe association between intakes of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and fish and therisk of community-acquired pneumonia found intakes of omega-6 linoleic acid (LA)and omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) were associated with reduced risk ofinfection.

Researchers evaluated 38,378 male U.S. health professionals aged 44 to 79years at the study outset. Participants' medical and lifestyle information wasupdated biennially through questionnaires, and diet was updated every four yearswith the use of a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Researchers excludedmen who reported pneumonia, myocardial infarction, stroke, other heart disease,arterial surgery, cancer or asthma before 1990 or those with incomplete dietarydata. Community-acquired pneumonia was determined by blinded medical recordreview of chest radiographs.

During the 10-year follow-up, 441 new cases of nonfatal community-acquiredpneumonia were found. Pneumonia risk was lower in men in the highestenergy-adjusted quintiles of LA and ALA intake than in men in the lowestquintiles of intake. Pneumonia risk decreased 4 percent and 31 percent for every1 g/d increase in LA intake and ALA intake, respectively. Intakes ofeicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid had no effect on pneumonia risk.Researchers concluded higher intakes of LA and ALA may reduce risk of pneumonia.