1. ^*Department of Pediatrics, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
2. ^†Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
3. ^‡Department of Body Composition and Metabolism, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
4. ^§Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.

Correspondence: Birgitta Strandvik Department of Pediatrics, Göteborg University, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, SE 41685 Göteborg, Sweden. E-mail: Birgitta.Strandvik@pediat.gu.se

^*The costs of publication of this article were defrayed, in part, by the payment of page charges. This article must, therefore, be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Received 21 December 2005; Accepted 18 August 2006.

Abstract

Objective: Fatty acid (FA) composition has a role in adipogenesis. The objective was to study serum phospholipid (PL) FAs in adolescents and their relation to abdominal adipose tissue (AT) compartments and metabolic markers.

Research Methods and Procedures: Abdominal AT was measured by magnetic resonance imaging and FA pattern was determined in serum PL of 10 obese adolescents (5 females), median age 12.0 years (range, 10.4 to 16.4) and BMI 30.7 (26.8 to 40.4), and 15 lean control subjects (9 females), median age 12.6 years (range, 11.3 to 15.4), and BMI 19.5 (17.1 to 23.4).

Results: Obese adolescents had relatively higher levels of saturated FA (SFA) and nervonic acid compared with controls. Serum PL concentration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was lower in the obese vs. lean females (p = 0.01), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p = 0.01). The ratios of arachidonic acid to DHA and total n-6/n-3 FA were increased in obese children (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). n-3 PUFAs were inversely correlated to all subcutaneous AT compartments except visceral AT. The homeostasis model assessment index of -cell function related inversely to DHA concentration (p = 0.03). All changes were more marked in the females.

Discussion: Serum FA pattern in obese adolescents differed significantly from that in age-matched lean controls, reflecting a decrease in n-3 PUFA, especially DHA, and an increase in SFA. The subcutaneous AT, but not visceral AT, correlated to the changes in PUFA and SFA, suggesting an abnormal essential FA metabolism in obese adolescents.