title: Comparison of the fatty acid composition of the serum phospholipids of controls, prediabetics and adults with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although abnormalities in the fatty acid composition of serum and red cell membrane phospholipids of patients with type 2 diabetes are well-documented, lacking are studies of this issue in prediabetic individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this cross-sectional study, we recruited 180 subjects (30-80 years), 56 of whom were normal with regard to glucose control (HbA1c, <5.7%), 61 who had prediabetes (HbA1c, 5.7%-6.4%) and 59 who had type 2 diabetes (HbA1c, >6.5%). Serum phospholipids were isolated and analyzed for fatty acids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most importantly, the fatty acid compositions of the controls and prediabetic subjects were not different for 19 fatty acids. However, the fatty acid profile of the phospholipids of the patients with diabetes differed from the other two groups; the 14 to 18-carbon saturated fatty acids were decreased by 12%-26% whereas the unsaturated fatty acids 16:1n-7, 18:1n-9, 18:2n-6, 20:3n-6 and 20:4n-6 were increased by 45%-64%. Of note, the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status of individuals in all three study groups was remarkably low compared with international values, as indicated by DHA proportions in the 1.62%-2.07% range, and there were no differences between groups. The mean melting point of the phospholipid fatty acids of the diabetic patients (32.2°C) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that of the prediabetic subjects (38.1°C) and the controls (39.9°C) which were not different from each other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations indicate that the fatty acid changes associated with type 2 diabetes follow the onset of the disease as opposed to being a causative factor of poor glucose control and insulin insensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lu-Te
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Glew
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.
authors.forename: Dorothy J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: VanderJagt
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.
authors.forename: Julie S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Broyles
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.
authors.forename: Gretchen M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.
authors.forename: Vallabh O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Shah
keywords: Fatty Acids; Fluidity; Phospholipids; Pre-Diabetes; Type 2 Diabetes