title: A distinct fatty acid profile underlies the reduced inflammatory state of metabolically healthy obese individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is associated with numerous health complications; however, a subgroup of obese individuals (termed the metabolically healthy obese or MHO) appear to have lower risk for complications such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence suggests that MHO individuals have reduced inflammation compared to their metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) counterparts. As it is recognized that fatty acids (FAs) have a strong relationship with inflammation, the current study aimed to uncover if the reduced inflammation observed in MHO individuals is mirrored by a more favourable FA profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasted serum samples were collected from lean healthy (LH), MHO, and MUO participants (n = 10/group) recruited from the Diabetes Risk Assessment study. A panel of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers were measured by immunoassay. Total serum FA profiling, as well as the FA composition of circulating phospholipids (PL) and triglycerides (TG), was measured by gas chromatography. ANOVA and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests were used to assess statistical significance between the groups (P<0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MHO and MUO individuals had similar BMI and body fat %; however, lipid parameters in MHO individuals more closely resembled that of LH individuals. MHO individuals had circulating levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) similar to LH individuals, while levels of platelet derived growth factor-ββ (PDGF-ββ) were intermediate to that of LH and MUO individuals. FA profiling analysis combined with discriminant analysis modelling highlighted a panel of nine FAs (consisting of three saturated, three monounsaturated, and three polyunsaturated FAs) in PL and TG fractions that distinguished the three groups. Specifically, saturated FA (myristic and stearic acids) levels in MHO individuals resembled that of LH individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the reduced inflammatory state of MHO individuals compared to MUO individuals may stem, in part, from a more favourable underlying FA profile.
authors: Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Maude
authors: M
authors: Perreault
authors: Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Zulyniak
authors: Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Flavia
authors: F
authors: Badoud
authors: Guelph Family Health Team, Yarmouth Medical Group, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Stephenson
authors: Office of Biotechnology, Genomics and Population Health, Public Health Agency of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Alaa
authors: A
authors: Badawi
authors: Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Buchholz
authors: Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Mutch
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005215:Fasting / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides