title: Associated factors of estimated desaturase activity in the EPIC-Potsdam study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Altered activity of desaturase enzymes may be involved in the development of metabolic diseases like type 2-diabetes. Desaturase activities might be modifiable by diet and lifestyle-related factors, but no study has systematically investigated such factors so far. We aimed to evaluate the association of demographic, anthropometric, dietary and lifestyle characteristics with estimated Δ5-, Δ6- and Δ9-desaturase activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A subsample (n = 1782) of the EPIC-Potsdam study was used for a cross-sectional analysis, involving men and women, mainly aged 35-65 years. Fatty acid (FA) product-to-precursor ratios, derived from the FA composition of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids, were used to estimate desaturase activities. Multiple linear regression models were used with estimated Δ5-, Δ6- and Δ9-desaturase activity as outcome and demographic (age, sex), anthropometric (BMI, WHR), dietary intake (FAs, carbohydrates) and lifestyle (physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption) factors as exposure variables. Alcohol intake was positively associated with estimated Δ6- (explained variance in desaturase activity: 1.52%) and estimated Δ9-desaturase activity (explained variance: 5.53%). BMI and WHR showed a weak inverse association with estimated Δ5-desaturase activity (explained variance: BMI: 1.07%; WHR: 1.02%) and weak positive associations with estimated Δ6-(explained variance: BMI: 1.17%; WHR: 1.19%) and estimated Δ9-desaturase activities (explained variance: BMI: 0.70%; WHR: 0.96%). Age, sex, physical activity, smoking and dietary factors were only weakly associated with the estimated desaturase activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that alcohol intake as well as obesity measures are associated with the FA ratios reflecting desaturase activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schiller
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and The Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weikert
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: di Giuseppe
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boeing
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany. Electronic address: kroeger@dife.de.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kröger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000097:blood*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases
keywords: Diet; Lifestyle; Obesity; Δ5-desaturase; Δ6-desaturase; Δ9-desaturase