Long-chain omega6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocyte phospholipids are associated with insulin resistance in non-obese type 2 diabetics.
BACKGROUND
Associations have been described between insulin action and long-chain omega6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in skeletal muscle and erythrocytes of healthy individuals. We evaluated whether there was an association between insulin resistance and long-chain omega6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocyte phospholipids of type 2 diabetics.


METHODS
Erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition was determined in 43 adult non-obese type 2 diabetics. Insulin resistance was estimated by the HOMA mathematical approximations. Individual omega6 fatty acids and the sum of long-chain omega6 polyunsaturated fatty acids were correlated with insulin resistance. The same association was assessed for fatty acid product/precursor ratios taken as measures of Delta5 desaturase, Delta6 desaturase and their combined action.


RESULTS
Except for 18:2omega6, 20:2omega6 and 20:3omega6, the individual omega6 fatty acids tested and the sum of long-chain omega6 polyunsaturated fatty acids correlated negatively with insulin resistance at p<0.005. Likewise, a negative correlation was found for the combined action of Delta5 and Delta6 desaturases (p<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that formation of long-chain omega6 fatty acids from 18:2omega6 by desaturation-elongation is impaired under insulin resistant conditions and reduced desaturase activities may be involved. In view of our results, we hypothesize that in insulin resistant conditions, insulin-mediated activation of Delta5 and Delta6 desaturases may not occur.
Rodríguez
Yanik
Y
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Havana, Cuba.
Christophe
Armand B
AB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*
D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D007328:Insulin; D010743:Phospholipids