Abstract
Increased plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with abdominal obesity (AO). However, this association remains controversial in children. This study analyzed plasma FFA concentration in children with and without AO. Twenty-nine children classified with AO were matched by age and sex with 29 non-obese individuals. Blood samples were collected after fasting for 10–12 h. Plasma concentration of glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined by automatized methods. FFAs were analyzed by gas chromatography. Children with and without AO had similar age (7.1 ± 2.6 vs. 7.2 ± 2.7 years; p > 0.05) but obese children showed higher (p < 0.05) body mass index (BMI) (+4.3 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (+5.1 mmHg), and insulin (+27.8 pmol/L). There were no significant differences in plasma total FFA concentration between groups (1.02 ± 0.61 vs. 0.89 ± 0.37 mmol/L; p > 0.05). However, children with AO had higher palmitoleic acid (0.94 vs. 0.70 wt %; p < 0.05) and dihomo-gamma linoleic acid (DHGL) (2.76 vs. 2.07 wt %; p < 0.05). Palmitoleic and DHGL acids correlated (p < 0.05) with BMI (r = 0.397; r = 0.296, respectively) and with waist circumference (r = 0.380; r = 0.276, respectively). Palmitoleic acid correlated positively with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.386; p < 0.05) and negatively with HDL-C (−0.572; p < 0.01). In summary, children with AO have higher plasmatic concentrations of free palmitoleic and DHGL fatty acids, which correlate with cardiometabolic risk factors.
Highlights
Abdominal obesity (AO) represents an increase in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and it is associated with excessive chronic energy intake and a sedentary lifestyle [1,2,3]
(2014), the Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants-Study (IDEFICS) released waist circumference cut-offs obtained from a representative sample from nine European countries [24]
abdominal obesity (AO), and examined how free fatty acids (FFAs) and desaturase activities are associated with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome components
Summary
Abdominal obesity (AO) represents an increase in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and it is associated with excessive chronic energy intake and a sedentary lifestyle [1,2,3]. According to the “fatty acids theory”, hypertrophied insulin resistant adipocytes release excessive fatty acids (e.g., FFAs) to blood circulation. This promotes ectopic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in key organs (e.g., liver, pancreas, heart, and skeletal muscle) and results in cardiometabolic alterations [7,8]. (2014), the Identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants-Study (IDEFICS) released waist circumference cut-offs obtained from a representative sample from nine European countries [24]. These reference values derived from normal-weight children offer a good option to classify AO in children [24]. AO, and examined how FFAs and desaturase activities are associated with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome components
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