Association of erythrocyte membrane fatty acids with changes in glycemia and risk of type 2 diabetes.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The significance of erythrocyte membrane fatty acids (EMFAs) and their ratios to predict hyperglycemia and incident type 2 diabetes is unclear.

OBJECTIVE:

We investigated EMFAs as predictors of the worsening of hyperglycemia and incident type 2 diabetes in a 5-y follow-up of a population-based study.

DESIGN:

We measured EMFAs in 1346 Finnish men aged 45-73 y at baseline [mean ± SD age: 55 ± 6 y; body mass index (in kg/m(2)): 26.5 ± 3.5]. Our prospective follow-up study included only men who were nondiabetic at baseline and who had data available at the 5-y follow-up visit (n = 735).

RESULTS:

Our study showed that, after adjustment for confounding factors, palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7; P = 2.8 × 10(-7)), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20:3n-6; P = 2.3 × 10(-4)), the ratio of 16:1n-7 to 16:0 (P = 1.6 × 10(-8)) as a marker of stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1 activity, and the ratio of 20:3n-6 to 18:2n-6 (P = 9.4 × 10(-7)) as a marker of Δ(6)-desaturase activity significantly predicted the worsening of hyperglycemia (glucose area under the curve in an oral-glucose-tolerance test). In contrast, linoleic acid (18:2n-6; P = 0.0015) and the ratio of 18:1n-7 to 16:1n-7 (P = 1.5 × 10(-9)) as a marker of elongase activity had opposite associations. Statistical significance persisted even after adjustment for baseline insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and glycemia. Palmitoleic acid (P = 0.010) and the ratio of 16:1n-7 to 16:0 (P = 0.004) nominally predicted incident type 2 diabetes, whereas linoleic acid had an opposite association (P = 0.004), and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids did not show any associations.

CONCLUSION:

EMFAs and their ratios are associated longitudinally with changes in glycemia and the risk type 2 diabetes.

• Authors: Yuvaraj Mahendran, Jyrki Ågren, Matti Uusitupa, Henna Cederberg, Jagadish Vangipurapu, Alena Stančáková, Ursula Schwab, Johanna Kuusisto, Markku Laakso
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 99 Issue 1 Pg. 79-85 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1938-3207 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24153340 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Blood Glucose
• Fatty Acids
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Insulin
• palmitoleic acid
• Linoleic Acid
• Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase
• 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid

Topics

• 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid (blood)
• Aged
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Body Mass Index
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (blood, etiology, prevention & control)
• Erythrocyte Membrane (metabolism)
• Fatty Acids (blood)
• Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated (blood)
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (blood)
• Finland
• Follow-Up Studies
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Humans
• Hyperglycemia (blood, complications)
• Insulin (blood, metabolism)
• Insulin Resistance
• Insulin Secretion
• Linear Models
• Linoleic Acid (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (metabolism)
• White People