Table 4

Adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for associations between plasma fatty acids (per 1% increase) and asthma or atopy

Type of fatty acidCurrent asthma (n = 986)Asthma (n = 1049)Doctor diagnosed asthma (n = 1049)Atopy (n = 1049)
n-6 series polyunsaturated
    18:2 LA0.99 (0.93 to 1.06)0.96 (0.91 to 1.01)0.98 (0.94 to 1.03)1.01 (0.96 to 1.06)
    18:3 GLA1.32 (0.07 to 25.01)0.26 (0.02 to 3.24)1.44 (0.13 to 16.57)7.59 (0.74 to 77.73)
    20:22.50 (0.24 to 26.06) 10.23 (1.42 to 73.46) 11.10 (1.64 to 75.61) 1.23 (0.20 to 7.42)
    20:3 DHGLA 1.30 (1.06 to 1.60) 1.34 (1.13 to 1.60) 1.25 (1.06 to 1.48) 1.06 (0.91 to 1.24)
    20:4 AA0.97 (0.88 to 1.06)1.05 (0.98 to 1.14)0.94 (0.87 to 1.02)0.97 (0.91 to 1.04)
    22:41.52 (0.48 to 4.78)1.07 (0.39 to 2.95)1.02 (0.38 to 2.74)0.92 (0.36 to 2.36)
    22:51.80 (0.55 to 5.88) 3.64 (1.36 to 9.73) 1.86 (0.70 to 4.92)1.07 (0.41 to 2.79)
n-3 series polyunsaturated
    18:3 LNA0.72 (0.09 to 5.84) 0.14 (0.02 to 0.86) 1.05 (0.19 to 5.83)1.23 (0.24 to 6.16)
    20:5 EPA1.01 (0.71 to 1.45)1.00 (0.75 to 1.34)0.94 (0.71 to 1.26)0.98 (0.76 to 1.26)
    22:5 DPA1.13 (0.73 to 1.75)1.43 (0.99 to 2.07)0.87 (0.60 to 1.26)0.97 (0.69 to 1.37)
    22:6 DHA0.96 (0.86 to 1.07)1.05 (0.96 to 1.15)0.97 (0.89 to 1.06)0.96 (0.88 to 1.04)
Total
    n-61.00 (0.94 to 1.07)1.01 (0.96 to 1.07)0.98 (0.93 to 1.03)1.00 (0.96 to 1.05)
    n-30.98 (0.90 to 1.07)1.04 (0.97 to 1.11)0.98 (0.91 to 1.05)0.97 (0.92 to 1.04)
    n-6:n-31.03 (0.92 to 1.16)0.97 (0.88 to 1.07)1.05 (0.95 to 1.15)1.06 (0.97 to 1.16)
    Polyunsaturated0.99 (0.94 to 1.05)1.03 (0.98 to 1.08)0.97 (0.93 to 1.02)0.99 (0.95 to 1.03)
    Saturated0.99 (0.92 to 1.06) 0.92 (0.87 to 0.98) 1.01 (0.95 to 1.06)1.00 (0.95 to 1.06)
    Trans0.64 (0.28 to 1.46)0.74 (0.38 to 1.43)0.97 (0.52 to 1.83)1.37 (0.76 to 2.48)
    Monounsaturated0.93 (0.83 to 1.04)1.03 (0.94 to 1.13)1.03 (0.94 to 1.13)1.05 (0.97 to 1.15)