Free Fatty Acids as a Predictive Risk Factor of Coronary Artery Diseases

Background: Free fatty acids (FFAs) are associated with several cardiovascular risk factors and exert harmful effects on the myocardium.

Objective: The aim of our study was to elucidate the FFAs level in patients with coronary artery disease who are angiographically proven and normal person.

Methods and Result: A total of 30 coronary artery disease (CAD) patient and 30 healthy controls were examined for fasting plasma circulating FFA. Each subject underwent a physical examination, ECG, coronary angiography, provided blood for laboratory tests, and answered questionnaires administered by trained interviewers. Body mass index, blood pressures, tobacco consumption, diabetes, fasting cholesterol level, and circulating FFA were independent risk factors for coronary artery disease. When adjusted for confounding factors, circulating plasma FFA concentration remained an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. Circulating plasma FFA was significantly (p<0.001**) elevated in patients with coronary artery disease when compared to normal.

Conclusions: FFA levels are an independent predictive risk factor of CAD. A possible diagnostic use of FFAs warrants further studies, but our results may underline the importance of therapeutic approaches to influence FFA metabolism.