The hypothesis that plasma lipid composition has an impact on arterial stiffness and subsequent mortality was verified in a prospective study of 174 nondiabetic individuals 45 to 74 years of age. Aortic stiffness was determined by aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). There was a relationship between PWV and cardiovascular mortality and the proportions of docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids. The pattern of higher polyunsaturated fatty acid and lower saturated fatty acid intake was negatively associated with PWC, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and smoking as well as with reduced mortality (hazard ratio: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39-0.82). The component characterized by higher saturated fatty acid and lower polyunsaturated fatty acid intake was associated with smoking, abdominal obesity (waist circumference) and increased mortality (hazard ratio: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.27). These results support the nutritional recommendations to reduce the intake of saturated fatty acids and to increase the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids in cardiovascular mortality prevention.
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