title: Docosahexaenoic Acid Levels in Blood and Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Children: Is There a Link?
abstract: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing in the pediatric population. Considering the different existing criteria to define metabolic syndrome, the use of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria has been suggested in children. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been associated with beneficial effects on health. The evidence about the relationship of DHA status in blood and components of the metabolic syndrome is unclear. This review discusses the possible association between DHA content in plasma and erythrocytes and components of the metabolic syndrome included in the IDF criteria (obesity, alteration of glucose metabolism, blood lipid profile, and blood pressure) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children. The current evidence is inconsistent and no definitive conclusion can be drawn in the pediatric population. Well-designed longitudinal and powered trials need to clarify the possible association between blood DHA status and metabolic syndrome.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Milan, I-20142 Milan, Italy. carlotta.lassandro@unimi.it.
authors: Carlotta
authors: C
authors: Lassandro
authors: Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Milan, I-20142 Milan, Italy. giuseppe.banderali@unimi.it.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Banderali
authors: Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Milan, I-20142 Milan, Italy. giovanni.radaelli@unimi.it.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Radaelli
authors: Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, I-20142 Milan, Italy. elisa.borghi@unimi.it.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Borghi
authors: Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Milan, I-20142 Milan, Italy. francesca.moretti@unimi.it.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Moretti
authors: Department of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Department of Health Science, University of Milan, I-20142 Milan, Italy. elvira.verduci@unimi.it.
authors: Elvira
authors: E
authors: Verduci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids
keywords: DHA; NAFLD; blood pressure; glucose metabolism; lipid profile; metabolic syndrome; n-3 LCPUFA; obesity