title: Plasma fatty acid patterns reflect dietary habits and metabolic health: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: Using pattern analysis, we investigated the relationship between plasma fatty acid patterns, dietary intake, and biomarkers of metabolic health using data from the Irish National Adult Nutrition Survey.
  
  
  
  Plasma fatty acid patterns were derived from 26 plasma fatty acids using k-means cluster analysis. Four clusters were identified, each with a distinct fatty acid profile. Cluster 1 included high proportions of linoleic acid (LA) and low proportions of stearic acid (SA); cluster 2 was higher in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and SA; the profile of cluster 3 was higher in very-long-chain saturated fatty acid (VLCSFA) and lower in α-linolenic acid (ALA) (cluster 3); while cluster 4 was higher in fatty acids related to de novo lipogenesis and 20:3n-6 and lower in LA (cluster 4). In general, cluster 4 was associated with adverse metabolic profile and higher metabolic risk (p < 0.033). Clusters 2 and 3 were associated with healthier and protective phenotypes (p < 0.033).
  
  
  
  Distinct fatty acid patterns were identified which were related to demographics, dietary habits, and metabolic profile. A pattern higher in VLCSFA and lower in ALA was associated with healthier metabolic outcome.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kaifeng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Breige A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: McNulty
authors.affiliation: Chemical Analysis Laboratories, Sandycove, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jack F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.affiliation: Chemical Analysis Laboratories, Sandycove, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Dan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Niamh F C
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gibney
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin, Ireland. anne.nugent@ucd.ie.
authors.forename: Anne P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nugent
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid
keywords: Metabolic risk; Pattern analysis; Plasma fatty acids; Very-long-chain saturated fatty acid; k-means