Abstract 11630: Plasma Nutrient Biomarkers of Dietary Intake Better Predict CHD Risk than FFQ Data in Postmenopausal Women Participating in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI-OS)

Abstract

Evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle are important determinants of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. In contrast to subjective self-reported assessments, plasma nutrient biomarkers can serve as objective indicators of dietary intake. However, data is still limited on the association between plasma nutrient biomarkers relative to food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) derived nutrient intakes and CHD risk. Thus the study objective was to compare the predictive value of plasma nutrient biomarker data with FFQ data for CHD risk in WHI-OS participants; cases with confirmed CHD (N=1214,) and controls (N=1214) matched for age, enrollment date, race/ethnicity, and absence of CHD at baseline. Plasma phylloquinone (vegetable biomarker), dihydrophylloquinone (partially-hydrogenated fat/fried foods biomarker), and phospholipid (PL) fatty acid profiles were measured using HPLC and GC, respectively. Nutrient intakes were derived using the validated WHI-FFQ. CHD risk determinations were based on odds ratios (see table below) using multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses controlling for BMI, systolic blood pressure, smoking, education, medication/hormone use, family history of CVD/diabetes and leisure physical activity. Plasma dihydrophylloquinone and PL-SFA were associated with higher CHD risk, and PL omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, DPA and DHA) with lower CHD risk, whereas only FFQ derived DHA data was significant. These results suggest that plasma nutrient biomarkers were more robust predictors of CHD than dietary intake data in this case-control study of free-living postmenopausal women participating in the WHI-OS.