Plasma fatty acid composition is associated with the metabolic syndrome and low-grade inflammation in overweight adolescents

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 82; no. 6; pp. 1178 - 1184
• Main Authors: Klein-Platat, Carine, Drai, Jocelyne, Oujaa, Mohamed, Schlienger, Jean-Louis, Simon, Chantal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 01-12-2005; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: adolescent nutrition; adolescents; Biological and medical sciences; blood lipids; Body fat; Body Weight - physiology; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Child; Cholesterol Esters - blood; Cholesterol Esters - chemistry; cholesteryl esters; Chromatography, Gas - methods; Cross-Sectional Studies; fatty acid composition; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - analysis; Female; Humans; inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - etiology; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - prevention & control; Interleukin-6 - analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - etiology; Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism; Metabolic Syndrome - prevention & control; Metabolism; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - physiopathology; phospholipids; Phospholipids - blood; Phospholipids - chemistry; Teenagers; Endocrinopathy; Human; Obesity; plasma fatty acid composition; Body weight; Nutrition disorder; Cardiovascular disease; Lipids; Metabolic diseases; low-grade inflammation; Corporal biometry; Inflammation; Fatty acids; Overweight; metabolic syndrome; Etiology; X Syndrome; Adolescent; Adolescents; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/82.6.1178

BACKGROUND: Together with adiposity, plasma fatty acid (FA) composition can modulate the development of the metabolic syndrome (MS). OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the relations of FA composition in plasma phospholipids and cholesterol esters (CEs) with weight status, MS, and inflammation in adolescents. DESIGN: Plasma FA composition was measured by gas-liquid chromatography in 120 (60 normal-weight and 60 overweight) 12-y-old adolescents. We also measured the presence of MS, insulin resistance with the homeostasis model assessment, and interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein concentrations in the adolescents. RESULTS: MS was present in 25% of the overweight adolescents but in none of the normal-weight adolescents. Compared with overweight adolescents, normal-weight adolescents had lower saturated FAs (SFAs) in both phospholipids (P < 0.001) and CEs (P < 0.01) and higher docosahexaenoic acid in phospholipids (P < 0.001). In overweight subjects, FA composition was associated with MS features independent of body fat. The odds ratios of MS for a 0.1 increase in the ratio of polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) to SFAs (PUFA:SFA) were 0.91 in phospholipids (P = 0.03) and 0.90 in CEs (P = 0.06). In phospholipids, PUFA:SFA and linoleic acid were associated positively with HDL cholesterol (P < 0.01 for both). PUFA:SFA in phospholipids and CEs were associated inversely with interleukin 6 (P < 0.05 for both). Eicosapentaenoic acid in phospholipids (P = 0.06) and CEs (P < 0.05) and linolenic acid in CEs (P < 0.05) were inversely related to C-reactive protein. These relations remained significant after adjustment for the waist-to-hip ratio. No significant relation between FA composition and the homeostasis model assessment was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma FA composition is associated with weight status in healthy adolescents. High intake of long-chain PUFAs, especially n-3 PUFAs, may protect obese subjects against MS and low-grade inflammation as early as adolescence.