Key result
Fasting free fatty acids positively correlate with total fat mass only in White males.
Why the study?
Although fasting free fatty acids are thought to correlate positively with adiposity, adiposity differs by sex and ancestry, leaving their relationship across diverse ancestry groups unclear.
Cross-Sectional (n=154)
The positive correlation between fasting free fatty acids and total fat mass appears to be specific to White males, highlighting ancestry and sex differences in adiposity metabolism.
Challenges uniform FFA-adiposity assumptions; hypothesis-generating for ancestry- and sex-specific cardiometabolic risk.
Introduction and Objective: Conventional thinking suggests that fasting free fatty acids (FFAF) are positively correlated with adiposity. Given adiposity differences by sex and ancestry, we evaluated this relationship in South Asian (SA) adolescents and young adults (AYA) compared with White (W) and African American (AA) peers. Methods: We measured FFAF and total fat mass (FM; Hologic DXA scan) among SA, W, and AA AYA with BMI ≥80%ile (≥23kg/m2 if ≥18y) without diabetes. Ancestry differences in the FFAF-FM association were tested using generalized linear models with interaction analysis between ancestry groups, sex, and FFAF, adjusted for age, pubertal stage, and height2. Results: AYA [51 SA, mean age: 19.8y, 54 W: 18.9y, 49 AA: 18.8y, p=0.02] did not differ by sex, BMI, pubertal stage, or FM [mean: SA 31219g, AA 31964g, W 29733g, p=0.5]. In males, W AYA had a positive relationship between FFAF and FM (β=0.07%, p<0.001), but differed by ancestry: SA vs W, -0.08%, p<0.001; AA vs W, -0.12%, p<0.001 (See Figure). Among females, there were no significant differences. Conclusion: In our cohort, the FFAF -FM relationship varied by sex and ancestry. Among males, FFAF were positive correlated with FM only in the W group. Thus, a positive relationship between FFAF and FM may be specific to W males. Disclosure T. Hitt: None. D. Stefanovski: None. R.J. McCarter: None. L.R. Yanek: None. B.S. Zemel: Consultant; Current; Incyte. Consultant; Ended; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hitt et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Overweight or obese without diabetes (n=154). Fasting free fatty acids (FFAF) vs. Different ancestry groups (South Asian, African American vs White) was evaluated on Association between fasting free fatty acids and total fat mass (β=0.07%, p=<0.001). Fasting free fatty acids were positively correlated with total fat mass only in White males (β=0.07%, p<0.001), with the relationship varying significantly by ancestry and sex.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: