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Metabolic Syndrome Affects Fatty Acid Composition of Plasma Lipids in Obese Prepubertal Children

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Lipids

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the plasma fatty acid composition of the total plasma lipids and lipid fractions in obese prepubertal children with and without metabolic syndrome (MS). Thirty-four obese prepubertal children were recruited: 17 who met MS criteria and 17 who did not; and twenty prepubertal children of normal weight. MS characteristics, insulin resistance (by homeostasis model assessment [HOMA-IR]), and plasma adiponectin (by radioimmunoassay) were recorded. Separation of lipid fractions was performed by liquid chromatography and the concentration of fatty acids in total plasma lipids and fractions was determined by gas–liquid chromatography. Concentrations of 16:1n-7, 16:1n-9, 18:3n-3, 22:6n-3, and n-3 PUFA in total plasma lipids (P < 0.05) and of 16:0, 16:1n-7, 18:1n-9, 18:2n-6, and n-6 PUFA in triacylglycerols (TG) (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in obese MS versus normal-weight children. Increased risk of MS was positively associated with plasma concentration of 16:1n-7 and negatively associated with proportion of 20:4n-6 (OR 2.76; P = 0.004; OR 0.56, P = 0.030, respectively). Saturated FA in TG were associated with HOMA-IR (R = 0.349, P = 0.017) and 22:5n-6 with adiponectin (R = 0.336, P = 0.05). In conclusion, increased concentrations of 16:1n-7 and decreased proportions of 20:4n-6 and 22:5n-6 in plasma lipids appear to be early markers of MS in children at prepubertal age.

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Abbreviations

HOMA:

Homeostatic assessment model

IR:

Insulin resistance

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

LC-PUFA:

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

LH:

Lutein hormone

MS:

Metabolic syndrome

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acids

NEFA:

Non-esterified fatty acids

NMS:

Non-metabolic syndrome

SCD1:

Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1

SFA:

Saturated fatty acids

TG:

Triacylglycerols

TFA:

Total FA

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Acknowledgments

Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica (I + D+I), Instituto de Salud Carlos III-Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria Project no. PI 020826 from the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumption; FEDER; Fundación Salud 2000 and Hero España. S.A., Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Paediatric Endocrinology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain

    Mercedes Gil-Campos & Ramón Cañete

  2. Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Maria del Carmen Ramírez-Tortosa, Javier Linde, Concepción M. Aguilera & Angel Gil

  3. Department of Physiology, School of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    Elvira Larqué

Authors
  1. Mercedes Gil-Campos
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  2. Maria del Carmen Ramírez-Tortosa
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  3. Elvira Larqué
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  5. Concepción M. Aguilera
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  6. Ramón Cañete
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  7. Angel Gil
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Correspondence to Angel Gil.

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Gil-Campos, M., del Carmen Ramírez-Tortosa, M., Larqué, E. et al. Metabolic Syndrome Affects Fatty Acid Composition of Plasma Lipids in Obese Prepubertal Children. Lipids 43, 723–732 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-008-3203-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-008-3203-4

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