Abstract
Introduction: Previously we found significantly higher values of the n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid (C18:3n-6), dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6) and arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) in plasma lipids in obese children than in nonobese controls (Decsi et al, Lipids 31: 305–311, 1996). Recently, an association between obesity, lipid metabolism disorders and the G-allele of the -866G/A polymorphism in the promoter region of uncoupling protein 2 gene (UCP2) was reported (Le Fur et al, Diabetes 53: 235–239, 2004). Here we report data on the association of the -866G/A polymorphism of UCP2 to the fatty acid composition of plasma lipids in obese children.
Subjects and methods: Obese children (n = 80, age: 13 [2.7] years, body mass index: 41.7 [4.4] kg/m2, body fat: 39.1 [4.2] %, mean [SD]) were investigated. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction with subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Fatty acids were determined by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography.
Results: The frequencies of the different genotypes were as follows: -866G/G: 42.5%, -866G/A: 42.5%, -866A/A: 15%. Anthropometric characteristics did not differ among the 3 groups. Values of eicosadienoic acid (C20:2n-6) in phospholipids and values of C20:3n-6 in sterol esters were significantly lower in children with the -866A/A genotype than in the other two groups (Table). Values of C20:3n-6 were also significantly lower in children with the -866A/A than in those with the -866G/A genotype in plasma phospholipids (Table). Table: Fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids and sterol esters in 80 obese children stratified according to genotype of the UCP2. Data are median [IQR], a, b = P < 0.05
Conclusion: In this study, we found significantly lower values of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, an important eicosanoid precursor, in plasma lipids of -866A/A homozygote compared with -866 G/A heterozygote and -866G/G normal obese children.
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Bokor, S., Csernus, K., Erhardt, É. et al. 45 The -866A/A but not the -866G/A Genotype of Uncoupling Protein 2 Gene is Associated with Reduced Dihomo-Gamma-Linolenic Acid Values in Obese Children. Pediatr Res 58, 362 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00074
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00074