Seasonal changes in the profile of blood plasma fatty acids as a mechanism of human adaptation to the extreme conditions of the North

Abstract

Extreme environmental factors lead to changes in the metabolism of the body and, in particular, to the predominant use of proteins and fats. The aim of our study was to reveal seasonal differences in the blood plasma fatty acid profile of people with evolutionarily developed mechanisms of adaptation to the specific conditions of the North. The subjects of the study were young male aborigines of the North (Yakuts), virtually healthy volunteers whose mean age was 19.1 ± 2.2 (n = 26). Venous blood samples were collected in the morning from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in different seasons (summer, fall, and winter). Temperature variations during these seasons were more than 100 °C. Identification and determination of fatty acid (FA) concentrations in the blood plasma samples were performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Statistical analysis of blood plasma lipid profile data was performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0. The results showed that the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) increases by 1.8 times in winter compared to other periods (summer, and autumn). The leading role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUSFA) in the adaptation of the human body to interseasonal changes has been revealed. The most important role is played by the winter increase of 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid (omega-3) and the winter decrease of arachidonic acid, cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid and 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid.