The Frequency and Amount of Fish Intake Are Correlated with the White Blood Cell Count and Aerobic Exercise Habit: A Cross-sectional Study

Habitual fish consumption and healthy lifestyle behaviours may be associated with higher total serum bilirubin level and anti-inflammatory activity: a cross-sectional study

Habitual fish consumption and a healthy lifestyle are associated with lower atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk. Mildly elevated bilirubin, an end product of Hb metabolism, may be associated with anti-inflammatory effects, suppressing ASCVD risk. No data exist on the relationship between fish consumption, total serum bilirubin (TSB) and inflammation in clinical settings. We conducted a cross-sectional study between April 2019 and March 2020 in a cohort of 8292 participants (average age, 46·7 (sd 12·9) years and 58·9 % men) with no history of ASCVD and TSB concentrations < 2·0 mg/dl. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed Hb concentrations were a solid positive determinant of TSB concentrations (β = 0·302, P< 0·0001). Fish consumption (β = 0·025, P= 0·019) and aerobic exercise (β = 0·021, P= 0·043) were statistically weak but significantly positive determinants of TSB concentrations. Cigarette smoking negatively affected TSB concentrations (β = −0·104, P< 0·0001). Moreover, with increasing fish consumption, the proportion of participants with a habit of cigarette smoking decreased, and that of participants who engaged in aerobic exercises increased (P< 0·0001 for both). Furthermore, as TSB concentrations increased, the leukocyte counts and C-reactive protein concentrations decreased (P< 0·0001 for both). In conclusion, despite the lesser relevance given to TSB concentrations than Hb concentrations, higher fish consumption and healthier lifestyle behaviours related to fish consumption habits may be additively or synergistically associated with higher TSB concentrations and anti-inflammatory activity, leading to attenuated ASCVD risk. Further investigations are needed to clarify the causal relationships between these factors.

Higher frequency of fish intake and healthy lifestyle behaviors may be associated with a lower platelet count in Japan: Implication for the anti-atherosclerotic effect of fish intake

BACKGROUND

Habitual fish intake and healthier lifestyles are associated with a lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Higher platelet counts (PLCs) are reportedly associated with higher ASCVD events. We aimed to investigate the association between fish intake and lifestyle with PLCs.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in a cohort of 9329 participants (average age: 46.9 ± 12.9 years; 58.9% men) with no history of ASCVD registered at the Health Planning Center of Nihon University Hospital in 2019.

RESULTS

The average fish intake frequency was 2.15 ± 1.28 days/week. As fish intake frequency increased (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days), PLC decreased significantly (p < 0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that higher fish intake frequency tended to be a determinant of lower PLC. Aerobic exercise habits and sleep duration were independent negative determinants of PLC. Cigarette smoking habits were a positive independent determinant of PLC. Furthermore, with increasing fish intake frequency, the proportion of participants with habitual aerobic exercise, non-smoking habits, and longer sleep duration increased (p < 0.0001 for all). Higher n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA), calculated based on data from the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey, intake was associated with a lower PLC.

CONCLUSION

Higher fish intake and healthier lifestyle behaviors may be comprehensively associated with lower PLCs. The intake of N-3 PUFA with anti-inflammatory effects, rich in fish, may also be related to the lower PLC. This association may explain the preventive effects of fish intake on ASCVD risk.

Inadequate sleep duration may attenuate the anti-inflammatory effects of fish consumption in a healthy Japanese population: a cross-sectional study

High fish consumption may be associated with lower inflammation, suppressing atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD). Long sleep duration, as well as short sleep, may contribute to inflammation, thus facilitating ASCVD. This study investigated the overall association between fish consumption, sleep duration and leucocytes count. We conducted a cross-sectional study between April 2019 and March 2020 with a cohort of 8947 apparently healthy participants with no history of ASCVD (average age, 46·9 ± 12·3 years and 59 % males). The average frequency of fish consumption and sleep duration were 2·13 ± 1·26 d/week and 6·0 ± 0·97 h/d. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that increased fish consumption was an independent determinant of sleep duration (β = 0·084, P < 0·0001). Additionally, habitual aerobic exercise (β = 0·059, P < 0·0001) or cigarette smoking (β = −0·051, P < 0·0001) and homoeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (β = −0·039, P = 0·01) were independent determinants of sleep duration. Furthermore, multivariate linear regression analysis identified fish consumption as an independent determinant of leucocytes count (β = −0·091, P < 0·0001). However, a significant U-shaped curve was found between leucocytes count and sleep duration, with 6–7 h of sleep as the low value (P = 0·015). Higher fish consumption may be associated with a lower leucocytes count in the presence of adequate sleep duration and healthy lifestyle behaviors. However, long sleep duration was also related to increased inflammation, even in populations with high fish consumption. Further studies are needed to clarify the causality between these factors.