Abstract: Big diseases often start small, sometimes in vessels thinner than a hair strand. Microvascular diseases (MVDs), which impact kidneys, nerves, and eyes, stem from damage to these tiny blood highways. A large prospective study of 88,571 adults (aged 40–69) from the UK Biobank tracked how abdominal obesity and plasma fatty acids influence MVD risk over 13.7 years. Using high-throughput NMR spectroscopy and Cox regression models, researchers uncovered a striking pattern: what flows in our blood can either guard or gamble the health of our smallest vessels.
The findings spotlight polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially n-3 and n-6, as protective shields, reducing MVD risk by up to 19% in the highest quartile. On the flip side, saturated and monounsaturated fats showed stronger links to higher microvascular risk. Most interestingly, n-3 PUFAs became even more protective in individuals with abdominal obesity, signaling that lifestyle chemistry is not one-size-fits-all. This research reinforces why biobanks like UK Biobank are transforming chronic disease studies. By pairing long-term data with molecular insights, they help decode prevention strategies that are personal, predictive, and powerful.
Read the full article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-025-01333-
