Background Circulating levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been associated with frailty among Koreans (a population with a high intake of fish), but whether this association exists in Western populations with low fish intake is unknown. The present study examined the hypothesis that the prevalence of frailty was inversely associated with plasma levels of n-3 PUFAs, with the intake of oily fish, and with fish oil supplementation in older adults in the UK. Methods UK Biobank including 79,330 adults aged ≥ 65 years with dietary data, and 18,802 participants with plasma fatty acid data were used. Frailty was defined using the Cardiovascular Health Study index, plasma levels of n-3 PUFAs were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance, and intake of oily fish and/or fish oil supplements was collected via food frequency questionnaire. Results Frailty prevalence was inversely associated with n-3 PUFA levels [odds ratios (OR) per SD: 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79─0.94; p < 0.001], with oily fish intake (never vs. ≥ 2 servings per week; OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.52-0.68, p < 0.001), and with the use of fish oil supplements (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.66─0.78; p < 0.001) after adjusting for confounding factors. All three exposures were also associated with each frailty criterion, particularly low physical activity and walking pace. Conclusions Inverse associations between plasma n-3 PUFA levels and measures of frailty suggest that higher intakes of oily fish and/or the use of fish oil supplements may help prevent frailty in older adults in the UK.

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血浆 n-3 多不饱和脂肪酸水平与老年人虚弱患病率的关联：英国生物银行的横断面分析

背景 n-3 多不饱和脂肪酸 (PUFA) 的循环水平与韩国人（鱼类摄入量高的人群）的虚弱有关，但这种关联是否存在于鱼类摄入量低的西方人群中尚不清楚。本研究检验了这样的假设：英国老年人的虚弱患病率与 n-3 PUFA 的血浆水平、油性鱼类的摄入量以及鱼油补充剂呈负相关。方法 使用英国生物银行 (UK Biobank)，其中包括 79,330 名年龄 ≥ 65 岁的成年人（具有饮食数据）和 18,802 名参与者（具有血浆脂肪酸数据）。使用心血管健康研究指数定义虚弱，通过核磁共振测量 n-3 PUFA 的血浆水平，并通过食物频率调查问卷收集油性鱼和/或鱼油补充剂的摄入量。结果 衰弱患病率与 n-3 PUFA 水平呈负相关[比值比 (OR)/SD：0.86，95% 置信区间 (CI) 0.79─0.94； p＜ 0.001]，摄入油性鱼类（从不与每周 ≥ 2 份；OR 0.59，95% CI 0.52-0.68，p < 0.001），以及使用鱼油补充剂（OR 0.72；95% CI 0.66─ 0.78；p < 0.001）调整混杂因素后。所有三种暴露也与每项虚弱标准相关，特别是体力活动和步行速度较低。结论 血浆 n-3 PUFA 水平与虚弱程度之间的负相关表明，摄入更多的油性鱼类和/或使用鱼油补充剂可能有助于预防英国老年人的虚弱。