Plasma long-chain fatty acids and the degree of obesity in Italian children.

Abstract

AIM:

To examine whether the plasma levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are associated with the degree of obesity in children.

METHODS:

Sixty-seven normolipidaemic obese children, aged 8-12 y, and 67 age- and sex-matched normal-weight children were included in the study. Obesity was defined in accordance with the International Obesity Task Force. BMI z-scores were calculated. Fasting blood samples were analysed for insulin, glucose, lipid profile and fatty acid (FA) levels (expressed as % total FA). Insulin resistance was estimated by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA).

RESULTS:

Compared with normal-weight children, obese children exhibited lower mean plasma total PUFA (37.8% vs 39.7%), omega-6 PUFAs (35.0% vs 36.8%) and C22:6omega-3-to-C18:3omega-3 ratio (5.52 vs 7.61), and higher total monounsaturated FA (26.6% vs 25.0%), C18:3omega-3 (0.28% vs 0.25%) and C20:5omega-3 (0.45% vs 0.39%). In obese children, the BMI z-score was negatively related to plasma PUFA, omega-3 PUFAs, C22:6omega-3, and the C22:6omega-3-to-C20:6omega-6 and C22:6omega-3-to-C18:3omega-3 ratios, and positively with total saturated FA and C20:3omega-9.

CONCLUSION:

In obese children, plasma LC-PUFA profile may be associated with the degree of obesity.

• Authors: Silvia Scaglioni, Elvira Verduci, Michela Salvioni, Maria Grazia Bruzzese, Giovanni Radaelli, Rolf Zetterström, Enrica Riva, Carlo Agostoni
• Journal: Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) (Acta Paediatr) Vol. 95 Issue 8 Pg. 964-9 (Aug 2006) ISSN: 0803-5253 [Print] Norway
• PMID: 16882570 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
• Lipids

Topics

• Blood Glucose
• Body Mass Index
• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Fatty Acids, Unsaturated (blood)
• Feeding Behavior
• Female
• Humans
• Italy
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Obesity (blood, ethnology, psychology)
• Severity of Illness Index