Serum fatty acid composition predicts development of impaired fasting glycaemia and diabetes in middle-aged men.
OBJECTIVE
Dietary fatty acid intake is reflected in serum fatty acid composition. Studies prospectively investigating serum fatty acids and development of impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) or diabetes mellitus (DM) are largely lacking. We assessed the association of serum fatty acid composition with development of IFG or DM.


METHODS
Middle-aged normoglycaemic men (n = 895) participating in a prospective cohort study were followed up after 4 years.


RESULTS
At baseline proportions of serum esterified and non-esterified saturated fatty acids were increased and polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased in men who after 4 years had developed IFG (n = 56) or DM (n = 34). No differences in dietary fatty acid composition as recorded in 4-day dietary records were noted. In logistic regression analyses adjusting for age; obesity; and fasting lipid, glucose and insulin concentrations, men with proportions of non-esterified and esterified linoleate in the upper third had nearly half the risk for IFG or DM compared with the lower third. In covariate analyses, baseline non-esterified linoleate proportions were associated with changes in fasting insulin and glucose concentrations over the 4-year follow-up. Baseline esterified fatty acid composition was also associated with changes in insulin.


CONCLUSIONS
High serum linoleate proportions decreased the risk of developing IFG or DM in middle-aged men over a 4-year follow-up, possibly mediated in part by insulin resistance. These findings support recommendations to substitute vegetable fat for animal and dairy fat in the prevention of disturbances of glucose and lipid metabolism.
Laaksonen
D E
DE
Department of Physiology, and Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, and Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, and Inner Savo Health Centre, Suonerjoki, Finland.
Lakka
T A
TA
Lakka
H-M
HM
Nyyssönen
K
K
Rissanen
T
T
Niskanen
L K
LK
Salonen
J T
JT
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D019787:Linoleic Acid