Individual saturated fatty acids are associated with different components of insulin resistance and glucose metabolism: the GOCADAN study.
OBJECTIVE
Type 2 diabetes and the consumption of saturated fatty acids (FAs) are on the rise among Alaska Inuits. This analysis, based on a cross-sectional study, explores the possible associations of saturated FA content in red blood cells (RBCs) and parameters of glucose metabolism in a sample of Alaska Natives.


METHODS
The sample included 343 women and 282 men aged 35-74. Statistical analyses explored the associations of selected RBC (myristic, palmitic and stearic acids) FAs with fasting glucose (plasma), fasting insulin (plasma), 2h glucose (2-hour glucose tolerance test), 2h insulin and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index. The models included sex and glucose metabolism status as fixed factors and age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, physical activity (METS) and FA content in RBCs as covariates. Measures of insulin, glucose and HOMA index were used as dependent variables.


RESULTS
Myristic acid was positively associated with fasting insulin (β=0.47, p<0.001), 2h insulin (β=0.53, p=0.02) and HOMA index (β=0.455, p<0.001). Palmitic acid was associated with 2h glucose (β=2.3×10(-2), p<0.001) and 2h insulin (β=5.6×10(-2), p=0.002) and stearic acid was associated with fasting glucose (β=4.8×10(-3), p=0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
These results strongly support the hypothesis that saturated fatty acids are associated with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance and that saturated fatty acids are significant risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Ebbesson
Sven O E
SO
GOCADAN Department, Norton Sound Health Corporation, Nome, Alaska 99762, USA. soebbesson@alaska.edu
Tejero
M Elizabeth
ME
López-Alvarenga
Juan Carlos
JC
Harris
William S
WS
Ebbesson
Lars O E
LO
Devereux
Richard B
RB
MacCluer
Jean W
JW
Wenger
Charlotte
C
Laston
Sandra
S
Fabsitz
Richard R
RR
Howard
Barbara V
BV
Comuzzie
Anthony G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005947:Glucose