title: Whole-blood fatty acids and inflammation in European children: the IDEFICS Study.
abstract: Fatty acids are hypothesized to influence cardiovascular disease risk because of their effect on inflammation. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between whole-blood fatty acids (WBFAs) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in European children.
  
  
  
  A total of 1401 subjects (697 boys and 704 girls) aged between 2 and 9 years from the IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects in Children and infantS) study were measured in this cross-sectional analysis. The sample was divided into three categories of hs-CRP. Associations between WBFA and hs-CRP were assessed by logistic regression models adjusting for body mass index (BMI), country, age, breastfeeding, mother's education and hours of physical activity.
  
  
  
  Linoleic acid (LA) (P=0.013, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.822-0.977) and sum of n-6 WBFA (P=0.029, 95% CI: 0.866-0.992) concentrations were associated with lower concentrations of hs-CRP in boys. In girls, a high ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/arachidonic acid (AA) was associated (P=0.018, 95% CI: 0.892-0.989) with lower hs-CRP concentrations. In contrast, sum of blood n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids (P=0.012, 95% CI: 1.031-1.284), AA (P=0.007, 95% CI: 1.053-1.395) and AA/LA ratio (P=0.005, 95% CI: 1.102-1.703) were associated (P<0.05) with higher concentrations of hs-CRP in girls.
  
  
  
  The n-6 WBFAs (sum of n-6 FA and LA) were associated with lower hs-CRP in boys and with higher hs-CRP in girls (AA, sum of n-6 highly unsaturated and AA/LA ratio). More studies are needed to identify the optimal levels of WBFAs to avoid low-grade inflammation in children considering the differences by sex and BMI.
authors.affiliation: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: González-Gil
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Ministry of Science and Innovation, Madrid, Spain.|Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santabárbara
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics, Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siani
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiologic Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.|Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sioen
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eiben
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiologic Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Mediterranean Neurological Institute NEUROMED, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iacoviello
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Risé
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics, Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Research and Education Institute of Child Health, REF, Strovolos, Cyprus.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tornaritis
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Development, Tervise Arengu Instituut, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veidebaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000097:blood*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005060:Europe; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid