Metabolically healthy obesity: Is there a link with PUFA intake and status?
Aleksandra Arsic, Revue canadienne de physiologie et pharmacologie, 21 August 2020.
The aim of this study was to compare dietary intake and status of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids metabolically healthy-and unhealthy, obese and non-obese persons. Metabolic health status in 171 participants was defined according to criteria for metabolic syndrome.
Obese and non-obese metabolically unhealthy persons (MUHO and MUHNO) had higher energy intake of n-6 PUFA (7.82±1.03 and 7.49±0.86), and lower intake of n-3 PUFA (0.60±0.12 and 0.62±0.11) compared to obese and non-obese metabolically healthy persons (MHO and MHNO) (5.92±0.63 and 5.72±0.67; 1.20±0.07 and 1.22±0.09, respectively), and higher n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. Plasma level of n-6 PUFA was lower in MUHO and MUHNO groups (38.49±3.71 and 38.53±2.19) compared to MHNO (40.90±2.43), while n-3 PUFA status was lower in obese than in non-obese persons (3.58±0.79 and 3.50±1.02 vs 4.21± 0.80 and 4.06±1.15). MHO group had higher eicosapentaenoic/arachidonic acid ratio and estimated desaturase (SCD16, D6D) and elongase activity in plasma phospholipids compared to MHNO. Low intake of n-3 PUFA is directly associated with metabolic risk factors.
These results indicated that obesity is closely associated with low levels of n-3 PUFA in plasma phospholipids, suggesting that dietary modifications including n-3 PUFA supplementation appear to be suitable therapeutic strategy in obese persons.