# Dietary Fatty Acids and Antinuclear Antibodies Among Adults with Arthritis in the United States: NHANES 1999–2004

## TL;DR

This study found that higher omega-3 fatty acid intake is linked to lower odds of ANA positivity in adults with arthritis.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce immune dysregulation in arthritis patients.

## Key findings

- High omega-3 intake was associated with a 57% lower odds of ANA positivity.
- No significant associations were found for other types of fatty acids.
- The study used a nationally representative sample of US adults with arthritis.

## Abstract

Background: This study investigated the link between daily fatty acid intake and antinuclear antibody (ANA) levels, a marker of immune dysregulation and autoimmune diseases, in individuals with self-reported arthritis. Methods: From the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004, 829 participants who self-reported arthritis and had autoantibody measurements were selected. Dietary fatty acids were collected via two 24 h dietary recall interviews conducted by trained interviewers. ANA levels were collected by measuring IgG autoantibodies targeting cellular antigens. Results: In a multi-adjusted logistic model, the odds ratio (OR) of the highest tertile of omega-3 intake (with omega-3 intake > 1.60 g/day) for the probability of ANA positivity was 0.43 (95% CI: 0.19–0.96) compared to those in the lowest tertile (≤0.92 g/day). However, we did not observe statistically significant results for other fatty acids. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential of dietary omega-3 PUFAs to modulate immune function and lower the risk of ANA positivity in individuals with arthritis.