title: The Effect of Meal Frequency on the Fatty Acid Composition of Serum Phospholipids in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.
abstract: Fatty acids are important cellular constituents that can affect many metabolic processes relevant for the development of diabetes and its complications. We previously demonstrated a positive effect of eating just 2 meals a day, breakfast and lunch, compared to 6 small meals. The aim of this secondary analysis was to explore the effect of meal frequency on the fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
  
  
  
  In a randomized, crossover study, we assigned 54 patients with T2D to follow one of 2 regimens of a hypocaloric diet (-500 kcal/day), each for 12 weeks: 6 meals (A6) or 2 meals a day, breakfast and lunch (B2). The diet in both regimens had the same macronutrient and energy content. The fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids was measured at weeks 0, 12, and 24, using gas liquid chromatography. Insulin sensitivity was derived as an oral glucose insulin sensitivity (OGIS) index.
  
  
  
  Saturated fatty acids (mainly myristic and palmitic acids) decreased (p < 0.001) and n6 polyunsaturated fatty acids increased (p < 0.001) in response to both regimens but more with B2 (p < 0.001 for both). Monounsaturated fatty acids decreased (p < 0.05) and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increased (p < 0.001) in response to both regimens, with no difference between the regimens. An increase in OGIS correlated positively with changes in the proportion of linoleic acid in B2. This correlation remained significant even after adjustment for changes in body mass index (BMI; r = +0.38; p = 0.012).
  
  
  
  We demonstrated that meal frequency affects the fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids. The B2 regimen had more marked positive effects, with saturated fatty acids and the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids decreasing more. The increase in linoleic acid could partly explain the insulin-sensitizing effect of B2 in T2D.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Prague , CZECH REPUBLIC.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kahleova
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Prague , CZECH REPUBLIC.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malinska
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Prague , CZECH REPUBLIC.
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kazdova
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Prague , CZECH REPUBLIC.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belinova
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Research Council , Padua , ITALY.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tura
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Endocrinology , Prague , CZECH REPUBLIC.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine , Prague , CZECH REPUBLIC.
authors.forename: Terezie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pelikanova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D019787:Linoleic Acid
keywords: insulin sensitivity; meal frequency; nutrition; phospholipid fatty acid composition; type 2 diabetes