ASSOCIATION OF FACTOR-VIIC ACTIVITY WITH DIETARY-FAT AND BLOOD-LIPIDS AMONG ELDERLY MEN - THE FINNISH COHORTS OF THE 7-COUNTRIES-STUDY

The association of plasma factor VII coagulation activity and fibrinogen with dietary fat intake and blood lipids were studied among 198 rural Finnish men aged 70 to 89. Mean (SD) factor VII activity was 143% (39.5%) and fibrinogen level 3.30 g/l (0.69 g/l). Mean total fat intake during the preceding month was 38% of energy (117 g/day), 20% from saturated, 12% from monounsaturated, and 5% from polyunsaturated fatty acids. Adjusting for age and dietary energy intake, factor VII activity increased significantly with increasing intake of total fat (rank correlation coefficient r = 0.28, p = 0.0001), saturated fatty acids (r = 0.22, p = 0.002), and monounsaturated fatty acids (r = 0.21, p = 0.003). No association was found with the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (r = 0.02). Mean factor VIT activities in the lowest and highest quintiles of consumption of total fat saturated fatty acids, and monounsaturated fatty acids were 118% and 162%, 125% and 157%, and 126% and 151%, respectively. Plasma fibrinogen levels were not associated with the consumption of dietary fat. These results together with previous evidence give added weight to recommendations to reduce total dietary fat intake in coronary heart disease prevention.