N‐6 Fatty Acids Instead of n‐3 and Saturated Fatty Acids Correlate with Body Fat Distribution From Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue to Visceral Adipose Tissue in Healthy and Overweight Subjects

Abstract

ObjectiveOur aim was to investigate the association between the plasma phospholipid (PPL) fatty acid profile and fat distribution in both healthy and overweight subjects.MethodsTotally 108 of 1066 Chinese adults stratified by gender and body mass index (BMI) were enrolled. The subjects received lifestyle questionnaire survey, physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The PPL fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatography. The fat distribution including subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) and skeletal muscle (SM) was measured by MRI.ResultsPPL n‐3 PUFA levels were inversely associated with SAT in healthy but not overweight subjects. However, no correlation between PPL n‐3 PUFA levels and VAT was observed. PPL n‐6 PUFA levels were directly correlated with SAT and VAT in healthy subjects, while PPL SFA levels were positively associated with SAT and VAT in overweight subjects. Multiple regression analysis revealed PPL n‐6 PUFA were positively correlated with SAT instead of VAT in healthy subjects, but positively associated with VAT instead of SAT in overweight subjects after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking, drinking and education level. PPL n‐3 PUFA did not significantly correlate with both SAT and VAT after adjustments. Logistic regression results showed that PPL n‐6 PUFA levels could be used to estimate the obese state.ConclusionsPPL phospholipid n‐6 PUFA instead of n‐3 PUFA and SFA as important predictors positively correlate with fat distribution from SAT to VAT. Consequently, PPL n‐6 PUFA levels could be used to estimate the obese state.