J Cancer Prev.  2017 Sep;22(3):182-188. 10.15430/JCP.2017.22.3.182.

Effects of Erythrocyte Membrane Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Overweight, Obese, and Morbidly Obese Korean Women

• Choi HN
• Yim JE

• KMID: 2396167
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15430/JCP.2017.22.3.182

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The levels of erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) may be associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Thus, we investigated the association between erythrocyte n−3 and n−6 FA composition, body mass index (BMI), and biochemical profiles.
METHODS
The body composition, dietary intake, and blood parameters, including serum lipid, glucose, insulin, adipokines, oxidative stress, and erythrocyte FA, were assessed in 66 overweight and obese women (average age, 43.4 years). We also classified the participants into the overweight, obese, and morbidly obese (MO) groups based on the BMI values of 23, 25, and 30 kg/mâ‚‚, respectively. Erythrocyte FA was measured via gas chromatography.
RESULTS
The serum glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of the participants in the overweight, obese, and MO groups were not significantly different. However, the serum insulin, high-density lipoprotein, cholesterol and leptin levels were significantly different. The erythrocyte n−6/n−3 ratios of the overweight, obese, and MO groups were 2.4, 2.5, and 2.8, respectively. These data were consistent with the dietary n−6/n−3 ratio findings. Moreover, the erythrocyte n−6/n−3 ratio was correlated with serum insulin levels.
CONCLUSIONS
As the severity of obesity increased, the levels of insulin and leptin and the ratio of dietary n−6/n−3 increased, which was consistent with erythrocyte FA. These results indicate that erythrocyte FA may be a predictive biomarker for the increased prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance, leptin resistance, and risk of developing metabolic disorders.

Keyword

Obesity; Erythrocytes; Fatty acids; Insulin resistance

MeSH Terms

Adipokines
Blood Glucose
Body Composition
Cholesterol
Chromatography, Gas
Erythrocyte Membrane*
Erythrocytes*
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated*
Female
Glucose
Humans
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Leptin
Lipoproteins
Obesity
Overweight*
Oxidative Stress
Prevalence
Triglycerides
Adipokines
Cholesterol
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Glucose
Insulin
Leptin
Lipoproteins