Fatty acid profile in patients with phenylketonuria and its relationship with bone mineral density.
BACKGROUND
Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) undergo a restrictive vegan-like diet, with almost total absence of n-3 fatty acids, which have been proposed as potential contributors to bone formation in the healthy population. The PKU diet might lead these patients to bone mass loss and, consequently, to the development of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Therefore, we proposed to analyze their plasma fatty acid profile status and its relationship with bone health.


METHODS
We recruited 47 PKU patients for this cross-sectional study and divided the cohort into three age groups (6-10 years, 11-18 years, 19-42 years). We measured their plasma fatty acid profile and bone mineral density (BMD) (both at the femoral neck and the lumbar spine). Seventy-seven healthy controls also participated as reference values of plasma fatty acids.


RESULTS
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and total n-3 fatty acids were significantly diminished in PKU patients compared with healthy controls. DHA, EPA, and total n-3 fatty acids were also positively associated with bone mineral density (r = 0.83, p = 0.010; r = 0.57, p = 0.006; r = 0.73, p = 0.040, respectively). There was no association between phenylalanine (Phe), Index of Dietary Control (IDC), calcium, 25-hydroxivitamin D concentrations, daily calcium intake, and BMD.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a possible influence of essential fatty acids over BMD in PKU patients. The lack of essential n-3 fatty acids intake in the PKU diet might affect bone mineralization. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm the effect of the n-3 essential fatty acids on bone accrual in a cohort of PKU patients.
Lage
Sergio
S
Division of Metabolism, Department of Paediatrics, Cruces Hospital, Plaza de Cruces, 48903 Barakaldo, Vizcaya, Spain. laboratorio.metabolismo.cruces@osakidetza.net
Bueno
María
M
Andrade
Fernando
F
Prieto
José Angel
JA
Delgado
Carmen
C
Legarda
María
M
Sanjurjo
Pablo
P
Aldámiz-Echevarría
Luis Jose
LJ
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014807:Vitamin D; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D010649:Phenylalanine; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D002118:Calcium