Visceral fat thickness in overweight men correlates with alterations in serum fatty acid composition

Abstract

Background: We examined relationships between visceral fat amount and alterations in serum fatty acid composition, both of which represent critical factors in the development of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Correlations were analyzed between visceral fat thickness as measured by ultrasonography and proportions of individual fatty acids in 21 normal-weight and 24 overweight Japanese men.

Results: Significant associations were identified in overweight subjects. Visceral fat thickness displayed positive correlations to levels of palmitic acid and saturated fatty acids (r=0.475, P<0.05 and r=0.545, P<0.01, respectively); and negative correlations to levels of linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids (r=-0.513, P<0.05 and r=-0.428, P<0.05, respectively). Visceral fat thickness was also correlated with estimated desaturase activities, with positive correlations to Delta9- and Delta6-desaturase activities and negative correlations to Delta5-desaturase activity (r=0.580, P<0.01, r=0.669, P<0.01 and r=-0.559, P<0.01, respectively). No significant associations were identified in normal-weight subjects.

Conclusions: Significant associations between visceral fat amount and alterations in serum fatty acid composition were identified, but only in overweight individuals.