Seven Countries Study cohort in Crete, Greece: gluteal adipose-tissue fatty-acid profiles of survivors, at 2010

ObjectiveTo analyse the gluteal adipose-tissue fatty-acid profiles from Cretan cohort survivors of the Seven Countries Study (SCS) at 2010 and to compare them with those of survivors assessed in 2000, as well as with literature data on male Cretans at 1965.DesignWe analysed data concerning the gluteal adipose-tissue fatty acids (analysed by GC) from three studies.SettingThe island of Crete (rural areas and the city of Heraklion).SubjectsTwenty-two of the 2010 SCS survivors aged 90 years and over; seventy-eight men aged 80 years of the 2000 SCS survivors; and 280 men assessed in 1965.ResultsIn comparison to 1965 and 2000, the SCS survivors in 2010 had a higher amount of 18:1n-9 (P<0·05) in their gluteal adipose tissue and a lower amount of PUFA (P<0·05). On the other hand, a constant decrease in adipose-tissue 14:1n-5 and 16:1n-7 was recorded between 1965 and 2010 (P<0·001), and between 2000 and 2010 (P<0·05), while 18:2n-6 appeared to decrease between the 1965 and 2010 assessments (P<0·001).ConclusionsComparison with a 1965 representative Cretan sample and 2000 SCS survivors indicated an increased concentration of oleic acid (known for its protective role against mortality) and a decreased concentration of PUFA (known for their susceptibility to oxidation) in our surviving sample at 2010. These changes may reflect internal physiological processes due to diet change within these years and/or ageing.