Combined Higher Frequency Fish Consumption and Healthy Lifestyle May Lower the Triglyceride/HDL-C Ratio in Middle-Aged Japanese Males: Anti-Atherosclerotic Effect of Fish Consumption

Abstract

Background: Fish consumption may be associated with a low risk of coronary artery disease. We aimed to investigate whether higher fish consumption results in improved lifestyle behaviors and thus lower triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio––a predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Methods and results: This cross-sectional study included 2947 middle-aged Japanese males with no history of ASCVD or lipid-modifying therapy, who presented at the Health Planning Center of Nihon university hospital between April 2018 and March 2019. We performed an analysis of variance using fish consumption as a categorical variable (0-2 days, 3-4 days, or 5-7 days per week). The serum TG/HDL-C ratio in the 5-7 days fish consumption group was significantly lower than those in the 0-2- and 3-4-days fish consumption groups (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Multiple regression stepwise analysis revealed that weekly fish consumption negatively and independently determined the TG/HDL-C ratio (β = -0.061, p = 0.001). As fish consumption increased, the proportion of subjects with smoking habits decreased (p = 0.014), those engaging in aerobic exercises and aggressive daily physical activity increased (p < 0.0001 for both), and those with alcohol habit increased (p < 0.0001). In addition, we developed the risk stratification for ASCVD by combining the serum HDL-C level and the serum TG/HDL-C ratio with fish intake. Conclusion: Increased frequency of fish consumption and improved lifestyle behaviors due to daily fish intake may work additively to lower the serum TG/HDL-C ratio. These associations may explain why high fish consumption is associated with a lower risk of ASCVD. Our findings may help physicians and nutritionists in treating patients with heart diseases and metabolic conditions by recommending a high fish diet in middle-aged Japanese males.

Inadequate sleep duration may attenuate the anti-inflammatory effects of fish consumption in a healthy Japanese population: a cross-sectional study

“…Intensive physical activity was defined as walking or engaging in similar physical activity for 1 h or more per d in daily life. The average weekly alcohol intake was calculated from the number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week and the amount of alcohol consumed per drink (ethanol equivalent (g/week)) (17) . and amount of fish consumption were positively correlated with n-3 PUFA consumption (16) .…”

“…The individuals undergoing health checkups were administered a lifestyle questionnaire. The questions listed below are similar to the ones used in our previous studies (17) . Smoking habit: Do you smoke habitually? : No/Yes/I have quit smoking/I quit smoking () years ago. Drinking habit: Please specify the frequency of your drinking: Every day/sometimes/I used to drink previously, but have stopped drinking/I stopped drinking () years ago/I drink rarely/I cannot drink; How much do you drink per d when you drink?…”

“…(ethanol equivalent (g/d)): <20 g/20 to <40 g/40 to <60 g/≥60 g; How many days per week do you drink? (17) Aerobic exercise habit: Have you engaged in an exercise that makes you sweat slightly for ≥30 min a day, at least twice a week for ≥1 year? Intensive physical activity: Do you walk or engage in similar physical activity for 1 h or more per d in daily life? Sleep habit : How many hours a day, on average, do you sleep? Fish consumption : How many days in a week, on average, have you eaten fish in the past 1 month? …”

“…(ethanol equivalent (g/d)): <20 g/20 to <40 g/40 to <60 g/≥60 g; How many days per week do you drink? (17)…”

“…The individuals undergoing health checkups were administered a lifestyle questionnaire. The questions listed below are similar to the ones used in our previous studies (17) . Fish consumption was assessed in weekly frequency in the questionnaire (not at all, once, twice, three times, four times, five times, or six times a week, or approximately every day).…”