This paper aimed to identify metabolic profiles associated with Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) and the extent to which metabolites associated with AHEI also predict incident CVD.
Associations were tested in Whitehall II study. Higher AHEI score (indicating healthier diet) was associated with higher degree of unsaturation of fatty acids (FA) and higher ratios of polyunsaturated FA, omega-3 and docosahexaenoic acid relative to total FA. These findings were replicated in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Adherence to healthy diet seems to be associated with specifc FA that reduce risk of CVD.