Serum phospholipid fatty acids, adipose tissue, and metabolic markers in obese adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
Fatty acid (FA) composition has a role in adipogenesis. The objective was to study serum phospholipid (PL) FAs in adolescents and their relation to abdominal adipose tissue (AT) compartments and metabolic markers.


METHODS
Abdominal AT was measured by magnetic resonance imaging and FA pattern was determined in serum PL of 10 obese adolescents (5 females), median age 12.0 years (range, 10.4 to 16.4) and BMI 30.7 (26.8 to 40.4), and 15 lean control subjects (9 females), median age 12.6 years (range, 11.3 to 15.4), and BMI 19.5 (17.1 to 23.4).


RESULTS
Obese adolescents had relatively higher levels of saturated FA (SFA) and nervonic acid compared with controls. Serum PL concentration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was lower in the obese vs. lean females (p = 0.01), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p = 0.01). The ratios of arachidonic acid to DHA and total n-6/n-3 FA were increased in obese children (p = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). n-3 PUFAs were inversely correlated to all subcutaneous AT compartments except visceral AT. The homeostasis model assessment index of beta-cell function related inversely to DHA concentration (p = 0.03). All changes were more marked in the females.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum FA pattern in obese adolescents differed significantly from that in age-matched lean controls, reflecting a decrease in n-3 PUFA, especially DHA, and an increase in SFA. The subcutaneous AT, but not visceral AT, correlated to the changes in PUFA and SFA, suggesting an abnormal essential FA metabolism in obese adolescents.
Karlsson
Martin
M
Department of Pediatrics, Göteborg University, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, SE 41685 Göteborg, Sweden.
Mårild
Staffan
S
Brandberg
John
J
Lönn
Lars
L
Friberg
Peter
P
Strandvik
Birgitta
B
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D012737:Sex Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids