Abstract
Introduction: Controversial data were reported in studies on fatty acid composition of plasma lipids in obese subjects (cf. Decsi et al, Lipids 31: 305–311, 1996 and 35: 1179–1184, 2000 to Phinney et al, Am J Clin Nutr 53: 831–838, 1993). The equivocal data obtained in different studies may be related to differences in anthropometric characteristics of the study populations.
Subjects and methods: Obese children (n = 114, age: 13 [3.1] years, body weight (BW): 76.6 [20.7] kg, relative body weight (RBW): 165.8 [22.7] %, body mass index (BMI): 41.3 [4.1] kg/m2, body fat (BF): 38.7 [4.0] %, waist/hip ratio: 0.85 [0.07]), mean [SD]) were investigated. Fatty acid composition of plasma lipid classes was determined by high-resolution capillary gas-liquid chromatography.
Results: The contribution of n-6 PUFA to the fatty acid composition of plasma sterol esters were as follows: linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, LA): 53.40 [6.19], dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6, DHGLA): 0.86 [0.26], arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6, AA): 8.10 [2.83], ratio of gamma-linolenic acid (C18:3n-6, GLA) plus DHGLA to LA: 0.03 [0.01], data are % weight/weight, median [IQR]. Values of LA showed significant and inverse correlation with RBW. In contrast, values of DHGLA showed significant and positive correlations with RBW and BMI, and AA values exhibited significant and positive correlations with BW, BMI and BF (Table). The product/substrate ratios for the delta-6-desaturase enzyme ([GLA+DHGLA]/LA) were significantly and positively related to RBW and to the waist/hip ratio (Table).
Conclusions: 1. In the present study, various anthropometric indices indicative of obesity were significantly and positively related to n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma lipids of obese children. 2. The product/substrates ratios for the delta-6 desaturase enzyme indicated enhanced conversion rate with more pronounced obesity. 3. Extent of obesity should be taken into account in studies on fatty acid metabolism in obese subjects.
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Decsi, T., Bokor, S., Erhardt, É. et al. 87 Anthropometric Indices Indicative of Obesity are Positively Related to N-6 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Plasma Lipids of Obese Children. Pediatr Res 58, 369 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00116
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200508000-00116