Abstract:
Introduction: The profile of fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes and estimated activities of desaturases can be altered in metabolic syndrome and obesity.
The aim of study: To correlate anthropometric and biochemical parameters of metabolic risk with fatty acids composition in erythrocyte phospholipids and estimated activities of desaturases, in obese and non-obese non-diabetic women, with or without metabolic syndrome.
Methods: In 40 non-diabetic and otherwise healthy women (aged 24-68 years, BMI=25.5 ± 6.0 kg/m2), the fatty acid composition in erythrocyte phospholipids was measured by gas-liquid chromatography. The activities of desaturases: delta-9 (D9D), delta-6 (D6D) and delta-5 desaturase (D5D) were estimated from product-precursor fatty acid ratios (D9D: 16:1n-7/16:0,D6D: 20:3n-6/18:2n-6; and D5D: 20:4n-6/20:3n-6). Correlations were made with anthropometric (BMI, FM, %FM, visceral fat level, waist/hip/upper arm/mid-thigh circumferences and WHR) and biochemical indicators of cardiometabolic risk (triglycerides, HDL-C, glucose, CRP).
Results: The level of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3n-6) in erythrocytes was in positive correlations with the levels of CRP, triglycerides and all measures of adiposity and centripetal fat distribution (BMI, FM, %FM, visceral fat level, all circumferences and WHR). The level of stearic acid (18:0) was in negative correlations with all measures of adiposity, but not with measures of centripetal fat distribution (waist circumference and WHR) nor with biochemical indicators. The level of palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) was in positive correlations with CRP, glucose and negative correlations with HDL-C. The estimated activities of D9D and D6D were in positive correlations with CRP, glucose, triglycerides, all measures of adiposity and centripetal fat distribution, and in negative correlations with HDL-C. In contrast, the activity of D5D was in negative correlations with all measures of adiposity and centripetal fat distribution, except %FM. The corrections for age did not influence the results, but additional corrections for the level of adiposity (BMI or FM) annulled the significance for all of the mentioned correlations, except for D9D and 16:1n-7 with glucose and CRP (which remained).
Conclusion: In non-diabetic women, the level of adiposity mediates the associations of desaturases activities and fatty acids composition in erythrocyte phospholipids with biochemical indicators of cardiometabolic risk, except for associations of D9D and 16:1n-7 with glucose and CRP.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- In non-diabetic, otherwise healthy women, the profile of fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes and estimated activities of desaturases are related to measures of adiposity and centripetal fat distribution, as well as with biochemical indicators of metabolic syndrome and chronic inflammation (levels of glucose, triglycerides, HDL-C and CRP).
- In particular, the level of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3n-6), palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7), as well as the estimated activities D9D and D6D show the positive association with those parameters, while the activities of D5D desaturases show the opposite pattern.
- The level of adiposity is the most significant predictor of desaturases activities and fatty acids composition in erythrocyte phospholipids and their association with biochemical indicators of cardiometabolic risk, except with glucose and CRP.
