Association between baseline δ-5 and δ-6 desaturase activity and incident coronary heart disease (CHD).

1δ-5 and δ-6 desaturase activities were assessed by the ratio of C20∶4n-6 to C20∶3n-6 and the ratio of C18∶3n-6 to C18∶2n-6 in plasma cholesteryl esters, respectively and median ratios in each quintile are listed between brackets.2From models with desaturase activity included as a continuous variable.3Model 1 was adjusted for age and sex.4Model 2 was adjusted for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, hypertensive medication use, current smoking, and diabetes.5Model 3 was adjusted for all covariates in model 2, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.6Model 4 was adjusted for all covariates in model 3 and percentages of C22∶6n-3 (DHA) in plasma cholesteryl esters.