Associations between plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids, plasma stearoyl-CoA desaturase indices and body fat.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)-1 deficient mice are resistant to obesity and plasma SCD indices are related to obesity in humans. Both n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) regulate expression of the SCD enzymes. Whether higher plasma PUFA were associated with lower SCD indices in humans was examined.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

Population-based study of 2,021 elderly subjects from the Hordaland Health Study. Using multivariate linear regression, the cross-sectional associations among plasma PUFA, estimated SCD indices (from fatty acid profiles in plasma total lipids), and fat mass measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were explored. Two plasma SCD indices were used: SCD-16 (16:1n-7/16:0) and SCD-18 (18:1n-9/18:0).

RESULTS:

Plasma total, n-6 and n-3 PUFA were inversely associated with both SCD indices (P < 0.001 for all). Among the individual PUFA, 18:2n-6 showed the strongest association with SCD-16 (partial r = -0.59, P < 0.001) followed by 20:5n-3 (partial r = -0.13; P < 0.001). Plasma total, n-6 and n-3 PUFA were inversely associated with body fat (P < 0.001 for all); the associations were markedly attenuated following adjustment for SCD-16.

CONCLUSIONS:

The epidemiological data are in line with animal studies and suggest that PUFA may decrease SCD1 activity in humans, with possible reduction in body fat.

• Authors: Kathrine J Vinknes, Amany K Elshorbagy, Christian A Drevon, Eha Nurk, Grethe S Tell, Ottar Nygård, Stein E Vollset, Helga Refsum
• Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) (Obesity (Silver Spring)) Vol. 21 Issue 9 Pg. E512-9 (Sep 2013) ISSN: 1930-739X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23512934 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 The Obesity Society.

Chemical References

• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Fatty Acids, Omega-6
• Fatty Acid Desaturases
• Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (metabolism)
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Fatty Acid Desaturases (blood)
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (blood, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Fatty Acids, Omega-6 (blood, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Obesity (blood, enzymology, metabolism)
• Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (blood)