Association between serum phospholipid fatty acid levels and adiposity in Mexican women

Fatty acids (FAs) have been postulated to impact adiposity, but few epidemiological studies addressing this hypothesis have been conducted. This study investigated the association between serum phospholipid FAs (S-PLFAs) and indicators of obesity. BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were collected from 372 healthy Mexican women included as controls in a case-control study. S-PLFA percentages were determined through gas chromatography. Desaturation indices, SCD-16, SCD-18, FA desaturase (FADS)1, and FADS2, biomarkers of endogenous metabolism, were proxied respectively as 16:1n-7/16:0, 18:1n-9/18:0, 20:4n-6/20:3n-6, and 22:6n-3/20:5n-3. Multiple linear regressions adjusted for relevant confounders and corrected for multiple testing were conducted to determine the association between S-PLFA, desaturation indices, and indicators of adiposity. SCD-16 (β = 0.034, P = 0.001, q = 0.014), palmitoleic acid (β = 0.031, P = 0.001, q = 0.014), and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (β = 0.043, P = 0.000, q = 0.0002) were positively associated with BMI. Total n-6 PUFAs (β = 1.497, P = 0.047, q = 0.22) and the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs (β = 0.034, P = 0.040, q = 0.19) were positively associated with WHR, while odd-chain FAs (pentadecanoic and heptadecanoic acid) showed negative associations with all the adiposity indicators. In conclusion, increased endogenous synthesis of palmitoleic acid and a high n-6/n-3 ratio are associated with increased adiposity, while odd-chain FAs are associated with decreased adiposity. Further studies are needed to determine the potential causality behind these associations. Fatty acids (FAs) have been postulated to impact adiposity, but few epidemiological studies addressing this hypothesis have been conducted. This study investigated the association between serum phospholipid FAs (S-PLFAs) and indicators of obesity. BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were collected from 372 healthy Mexican women included as controls in a case-control study. S-PLFA percentages were determined through gas chromatography. Desaturation indices, SCD-16, SCD-18, FA desaturase (FADS)1, and FADS2, biomarkers of endogenous metabolism, were proxied respectively as 16:1n-7/16:0, 18:1n-9/18:0, 20:4n-6/20:3n-6, and 22:6n-3/20:5n-3. Multiple linear regressions adjusted for relevant confounders and corrected for multiple testing were conducted to determine the association between S-PLFA, desaturation indices, and indicators of adiposity. SCD-16 (β = 0.034, P = 0.001, q = 0.014), palmitoleic acid (β = 0.031, P = 0.001, q = 0.014), and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (β = 0.043, P = 0.000, q = 0.0002) were positively associated with BMI. Total n-6 PUFAs (β = 1.497, P = 0.047, q = 0.22) and the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs (β = 0.034, P = 0.040, q = 0.19) were positively associated with WHR, while odd-chain FAs (pentadecanoic and heptadecanoic acid) showed negative associations with all the adiposity indicators. In conclusion, increased endogenous synthesis of palmitoleic acid and a high n-6/n-3 ratio are associated with increased adiposity, while odd-chain FAs are associated with decreased adiposity. Further studies are needed to determine the potential causality behind these associations. The obesity pandemic with associated comorbidities, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and other chronic diseases, is expanding worldwide (1Di Cesare M. Bentham J. Stevens G.A. Zhou B. Danaei G. Lu Y. Bixby H. Cowan M.J. Riley L.M. Hajifathalian K. Trends in adult body-mass index in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014: a pooled analysis of 1698 population-based measurement studies with 19.2 million participants.Lancet. 2016; 387: 1377-1396Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3106) Google Scholar). The situation is worsening in the developing world, with countries such as Mexico exhibiting a concerning proportion of obese individuals (2Barquera S. Campos I. Rivera J.A. Mexico attempts to tackle obesity: the process, results, push backs and future challenges.Obes. Rev. 2013; 14: 69-78Crossref PubMed Scopus (139) Google Scholar). According to recent estimates, approximately 65.3% of Mexican women are overweight or obese (1Di Cesare M. Bentham J. Stevens G.A. Zhou B. Danaei G. Lu Y. Bixby H. Cowan M.J. Riley L.M. Hajifathalian K. Trends in adult body-mass index in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014: a pooled analysis of 1698 population-based measurement studies with 19.2 million participants.Lancet. 2016; 387: 1377-1396Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3106) Google Scholar). Further, according to recent projections, more than 90% of Mexican women are at risk of becoming overweight or obese by 2050, with profound consequences on noncommunicable disease incidence and placing greater burden on the health system (3Rtveladze K. Marsh T. Barquera S. Sanchez Romero L.M. Levy D. Melendez G. Webber L. Kilpi F. McPherson K. Brown M. Obesity prevalence in Mexico: impact on health and economic burden.Public Health Nutr. 2014; 17: 233-239Crossref PubMed Scopus (143) Google Scholar). The global increase in obesity is predominantly attributed to the so-called obesogenic environment, which encompasses an increase in dietary energy intake and higher intake of added monosaccharides and saturated and trans fats, along with an unprecedented shift in energy expenditure patterns with a global decrease in physical activity and an increase in sedentary behaviors (4Popkin B.M. Adair L.S. Ng S.W. Global nutrition transition and the pandemic of obesity in developing countries.Nutr. Rev. 2012; 70: 3-21Crossref PubMed Scopus (2492) Google Scholar). The introduction of fast-food chains and the dissemination of Westernized dietary habits seem to be a marker of the increasing prevalence of obesity (5Stender S. Astrup A. Dyerberg J. Ruminant and industrially produced trans fatty acids: health aspects.Food Nutr. Res. 2008; 52: 1651Crossref Scopus (105) Google Scholar). Several epidemiological studies have examined the relationship between dietary fat and FAs estimated through dietary questionnaires and obesity, but the epidemiological evidence remains insufficient. Melanson, Astrup, and Donahoo (6Melanson E.L. Astrup A. Donahoo W.T. The relationship between dietary fat and fatty acid intake and body weight, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome.Ann. Nutr. Metab. 2009; 55: 229-243Crossref PubMed Scopus (116) Google Scholar) summarized interventional prospective cohorts and cross-sectional studies and reported mitigated associations, although increased intakes of saturated FAs (SFAs), MUFAs, and trans FAs (TFAs) were associated with slightly higher risk of obesity, while a minor protective effect was reported for PUFAs. Nutritional epidemiology is limited by the assessment of dietary FAs through food-frequency questionnaires or other dietary assessment methods (7Bingham S.A. Day N.E. Luben R. Ferrari P. Slimani N. Norat T. Clavel-Chapelon F. Kesse E. Nieters A. Boeing H. Dietary fibre in food and protection against colorectal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC): an observational study.Lancet. 2003; 361: 1496-1501Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (897) Google Scholar). FA content of adipose tissue, triacylglycerol, phospholipid, and cholesterol ester fractions of serum, plasma, or erythrocyte membranes reflect long-term to short-term intake of dietary FAs (8Baylin A. Campos H. The use of fatty acid biomarkers to reflect dietary intake.Curr. Opin. Lipidol. 2006; 17: 22-27Crossref PubMed Scopus (183) Google Scholar). As the of FAs in adipose is adipose FA long-term intake M. M. of the of dietary fatty acids into serum erythrocyte and adipose an Res. Full Text PDF PubMed Google Scholar). epidemiological studies have fractions of adipose fractions in are by the and of fat recent are the of The FA of serum, plasma, or erythrocyte phospholipid to intakes of FAs or food for FAs are and PUFAs (8Baylin A. Campos H. The use of fatty acid biomarkers to reflect dietary intake.Curr. Opin. Lipidol. 2006; 17: 22-27Crossref PubMed Scopus (183) Google G. G. M. M. M. I. associations between food intakes and phospholipid acid from a cross-sectional study the European prospective into cancer and nutrition PubMed Scopus Google M. Slimani N. M. J. Ferrari P. G. P. phospholipid fatty acid and association with food from a cross-sectional study the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and J. Nutr. 2009; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar). FAs from dietary desaturation be determined in or serum as the ratio of to and are as biomarkers of endogenous of FAs Clavel-Chapelon F. The fatty acid desaturation index of as a of desaturase is a of cancer Opin. Lipidol. PubMed Scopus Google Scholar). serum phospholipid FA be as a for the assessment of intake and of FAs in studies M. E. Clavel-Chapelon F. between serum phospholipid fatty acids and dietary intakes a few 2009; PubMed Scopus Google A. E. phospholipid fatty acid and intake of by a food J. Nutr. PubMed Scopus Google A. of the fatty acids and in serum and adipose as of intake of and J. Nutr. PubMed Scopus Google A. M. B. Fatty acid of adipose and serum are of fat intake in Nutr. PubMed Scopus Google Scholar). studies have investigated the association between biomarkers of FA metabolism, and obesity. study conducted the European reported an association between high percentages of phospholipid and increased risk of the in women Ferrari P. I. H. I. A. B. D. M.J. acid as of trans fatty acids and risk of from the PubMed Scopus Google Scholar). recent by and A. T. of in serum of obese a Rev. PubMed Scopus Google Scholar) reported a for a association between obesity and serum MUFAs, and and a negative association for odd-chain and of FAs through the desaturation activity the of The desaturation activity is with the desaturation indices, SCD-16 and SCD-18, for the of into MUFAs, and FA desaturase and for the introduction of to and n-6 PUFAs. SCD-16 been reported to be positively associated with obesity indicators and body while the associations are mitigated for in cross-sectional studies J. M.J. between the of desaturase and in Nutr. PubMed Scopus Google E. M. B. between estimated fatty acid desaturase in serum and adipose in to obesity and Health 2009; PubMed Scopus Google E. H. desaturase association with and body 2013; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar). is a for the desaturation of and n-6 in association with obesity on n-6 and G. J. The of and n-6 fatty Res. 2008; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar). is a of the association between FA endogenous FA and obesity. The of this study was to determine the association between S-PLFA percentages as biomarkers of dietary and endogenous FA and indicators of obesity in a of Mexican The of this study on the of FAs in serum as biomarkers of dietary FAs and endogenous The study was of a of women as controls in a population-based case-control study on cancer conducted in Mexican women from to as A. E. E. I. G. physical activity and cancer the effect of PubMed Scopus Google Scholar). in the study were from Mexico and and to cancer on the of and was for at the The on the and and diabetes, and and physical and dietary was according to the of the for at In to women were with of and with reported or the of but were at in Mexican women is E. G. P. J. M. of and cancer risk in a high in Res. Google Scholar). at and were activity was the the the and the and of the a and was reported in metabolic of or intake was determined from a dietary food of in the Mexican M. I. S. J. 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The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the study were respectively and with a BMI of increased from at to at = an from to obesity with in the study of the study or at at high or at at at at the of the for at and for weight, and for and for in a for at and for weight, and for and for The S-PLFA of the is in FAs are by n-6 and and by and The of of MUFAs, and n-6 and the n-6/n-3 ratio were Desaturation indices, SCD-16, SCD-18, and FADS2, as biomarkers of FA were acid and acid were the for the high percentages of and n-6 PUFAs. with n-6 percentages were and this was in an n-6/n-3 ratio of of of and desaturation in the study (pentadecanoic trans n-6 are as of The are with in a FA are as of The are with the multiple regressions for the association between FAs and and and to for multiple BMI was positively associated with acid (β = P = palmitoleic acid (β = 0.031, P = (β = 0.043, P = and (β = P = and associated with heptadecanoic acid (β = P = and acid (β = P = the associations were corrected for multiple for palmitoleic acid = and = were for In the odd-chain acid (β = P = q = and heptadecanoic acid (β = P = 0.000, q = to be associated with WHR, while n-6 PUFAs (β = 1.497, P = 0.047, q = 0.22) and the n-6/n-3 ratio (β = P = 0.040, q = 0.19) showed a with a between and for the association between and obesity were and for the analysis for the were adjusted for energy physical and of P or q are in were and for the analysis for the were adjusted for energy physical and of P or q are in were and for the analysis for the were adjusted for energy physical and of P or q are in (pentadecanoic trans n-6 FA were and for the analysis for the were adjusted for energy physical and of P or q are in in a investigated to determine the association between the indicators of obesity and FAs be by with other between the the and the desaturation SCD-16 showed with of the FAs associated with the obesity heptadecanoic acid = P = acid = P = acid = P = acid = P = = P = = P = and n-6 PUFAs = P = to the associations between and obesity indicators were by the endogenous activity proxied through adjusted for SCD-16 associations with the few of MUFAs, which showed negative association with BMI and P and the multiple regressions between desaturation and and all the desaturation were associated with BMI and but with The associations and for SCD-16 = 0.034, P = 0.001, q = and for = P = q = and negative for = P = 0.001, q = and for = P = q = for multiple for the association between the desaturation and obesity indicators in the study index were and for the analysis for the were adjusted for energy physical and of P or q are in index were and for the analysis for the were adjusted for energy physical and of P or q are in index were and for the analysis for the were adjusted for energy physical and of P or q are in index index Desaturation index were and for the analysis for the were adjusted for energy physical and of P or q are in in a This is the study to the association between S-PLFA and the indicators of obesity in a of Mexican desaturation SCD-16, as a marker of endogenous synthesis of palmitoleic was positively associated with BMI and In SCD-18, and were associated with BMI and BMI and were associated with heptadecanoic acid and positively associated with and was positively associated with the n-6/n-3 of FAs be in the of obesity and the of FA biomarkers for of the of dietary FAs and in obesity. epidemiological studies have investigated the between desaturation indices, and adiposity. epidemiological studies have reported a association between palmitoleic and and indicators of obesity. these studies have body Ferrari P. 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This study the dietary of the determine in obesity. The of study is from a the incidence of obesity increased a of from to more than in (1Di Cesare M. Bentham J. Stevens G.A. Zhou B. Danaei G. Lu Y. Bixby H. Cowan M.J. Riley L.M. Hajifathalian K. Trends in adult body-mass index in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014: a pooled analysis of 1698 population-based measurement studies with 19.2 million participants.Lancet. 2016; 387: 1377-1396Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3106) Google a in this The in study showed the of the were and and obesity the of the and food as of the obesity in study is limited by cross-sectional and were collected and the association between obesity and FAs be in this The study was limited by the of on other such as serum and which have an to the of the associations between FAs and obesity. In as is and predominantly of overweight and obese and the in FA in the is In conclusion, this study showed a association between SCD-16 as a for the endogenous of palmitoleic acid and BMI. In the n-6/n-3 ratio was positively associated with WHR, n-6 PUFAs impact obesity on of PUFAs. health to a n-6/n-3 ratio of to in the against obesity. the causality of the associations in this study to be more studies are to the between obesity and with a on odd-chain The to all the women in the the for and for the and for the analysis of the and the of the and all the for the in the Mexico Mexico Mexico for and for Mexico Cancer Health and A. with acid dihomo-γ-linolenic acid acid FA desaturase FA ester trans FA metabolic of saturated FA serum phospholipid FA trans FA waist-to-hip ratio