Arachidonic acid content in adipose tissue is associated with insulin resistance in healthy children.
BACKGROUND
The fatty acid composition of membrane structural lipids, which is partly dependent on dietary intake, is associated with insulin action.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between fatty acid composition of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle phospholipids with insulin resistance markers in a healthy pediatric population.


METHODS
Using a cross-sectional design, we studied 83 healthy children divided into 3 groups, ages 2 to 5, 6 to 10 and more than 10 years.


METHODS
Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue triacylglycerols and skeletal muscle phospholipids, plasma lipid profile and fasting plasma levels of glucose and insulin were measured.


RESULTS
There was a linear increase of insulinemia, glycemia and homeostasis adipose tissue model assessment (HOMA) index throughout the pediatric age range. Linoleic acid proportion in skeletal muscle and arachidonic acid proportion in adipose tissue also increased significantly with age. An age-independent positive correlation between insulinemia or HOMA index and arachidonic acid content in adipose tissue triacylglycerols (r = 0.47, P < 0.001) was found. An age-dependent negative correlation was present between insulinemia or HOMA index and oleic acid content in skeletal muscle phospholipids (r = -0.30, P = 0.03 and r = -0.28, P < 0.04, respectively). Trans fatty acids content did not correlate with any marker of insulin resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthy children present a prepubertal increase of insulin resistance, which is significantly correlated with arachidonic acid content in adipose tissue.
Aldámiz-Echevarría
Luis
L
Division of Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Cruces Hospital and Basque University School of Medicine, Bilbao, Spain. kaldamiz@hcru.osakidetza.net
Prieto
José A
JA
Andrade
Fernando
F
Elorz
Javier
J
Sanjurjo
Pablo
P
Rodríguez Soriano
Juan
J
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry
D015415:Biomarkers; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid