Saturated Fatty Acids and Parameters of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Adolescents of sub-Arctic and Arctic regions

Abstract

The profile of saturated fatty acid (SFA) and their relationship with the parameters of carbohydrate metabolism were investigated in 12–16-year-old adolescents from the sub-Arctic and Arctic regions of the European and Asian North of Russia. SFA levels were measured by gas-liquid chromatography; carbohydrate parameters (glucose–Glu, lactate–Lac, pyruvate–Pyr levels) were assayed by spectrophotometry; the Lac/Pyr ratio and total levels of medium-chain (ΣMC) and long-chain (ΣLC) SFA were calculated. Data were statistically processed using descriptive and correlation analyses. The multidirectional dynamics of MC SFA was established: lauric and myristic acid levels were decreased while undecanoic and pentadecanoic acid levels were increased in adolescents of the Arctic vs. sub-Arctic regions. The ΣLC SFA level was increased due to virtually all LC SFA against the background of decreased Glu Lac and Lac/Pyr values as well as slightly increased Pyr level. At the same time, in the Arctic region correlative relationships between SFA and Glu levels were negative, between SFA and Lac and Lac/Pyr–positive, whereas in the sub-Arctic region the signs of relationships were opposite.