A comprehensive study of serum odd‐ and branched‐chain fatty acids in patients with excess weight

Abstract

Objective: While small amounts of odd-chain fatty acids (OCFAs) and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) were known to be present in mammals, it was quite recently that they were shown to play an important role in human health. However, still little is known on OCFA and BCFA profiles in subjects who have obesity. The aim of this study was to verify whether obesity is associated with changes in serum OCFA and BCFA profiles. Methods: Serum content of fatty acids was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy in 23 patients with excess weight and 21 nonobese controls. Results: Six OCFAs and six BCFAs (three iso-BCFAs and three anteiso-BCFAs) were found in sera from the examined subjects. Patients with excess weight presented with significantly lower serum iso-BCFA levels than the controls. Total serum content of iso-BCFAs correlated inversely with serum insulin, triglycerides, and 18:1/18:0 desaturation index. Both OCFA and iso-BCFA levels correlated inversely with Creactive protein concentration. Conclusions: Lower iso-BCFA content in patients with excess weight may be involved in elevation of serum concentration of triglycerides and inflammation. Decreased contents of iso-BCFAs in subjects with have obesity, and established anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties of these fatty acids, point to potential beneficial effects of an iso-BCFA-rich diet.

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

“…Pentadecanoic acid and heptadecanoic acid are reported to be negatively associated with several disease outcomes, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases (52). Our results concur with Kratz, Baars, and Guyenet (53), who reviewed 16 studies and reported that dairy fats might be associated with lower obesity risk, although Mika et al (54) found no difference in serum levels between individuals with and without obesity. This study suggests that the dietary source of the SFAs might determine their implication in obesity.…”

Alterations of specific lipid groups in serum of obese humans: a review

“…Intriguingly, del Genio et al . found lower contents of MUFAs, especially 16:1 and 18:1, and elevated levels of PUFAs within PHL in erythrocyte membranes from obese subjects, whereas our previous study of morbidly obese persons demonstrated an increase in serum MUFAs and a decrease in serum PUFAs . Also, Cordero et al .…”

“…FAs are a diverse group of compounds differing in terms of chain length, degree of saturation thereof and metabolic effects . Both the results of our previous studies and data published by other researchers imply that obese subjects may display significant changes in their FA profiles, which may exert significant effects on their metabolism and general health status. Also, the composition of PHLs in blood cells was demonstrated to be altered in obese patients .…”

“…Because MUFAs synthesized from SFAs in a SCD1 ‐catalyzed reaction are the principal component of the liver‐derived TAGs , enhanced activity of this enzyme may contribute to hypertriglyceridemia in obese patients. This hypothesis is supported by a strong correlation between 18:1/18:0 DI and serum TAGs documented in obese subjects . Although another isoform of delta 9 desaturase (stearoyl‐CoA desaturase 5) is expressed in human adipose tissue, its expression is several‐fold lower than that of SCD1 .…”

“…In one study, concentrations of 15:0 and 17:0 OCFAs, considered a marker of dairy product intake, were demonstrated to be lower in obese adolescents than in their normal‐weight peers, and correlated inversely with oxidative stress and inflammation . In turn, our previous study demonstrated that morbidly obese patients present with decreased serum levels of iso ‐branched chain FAs and the latter correlate strongly with markers of metabolic disorders, such as concentrations of CRP, TAGs and insulin .…”