Human subcutaneous adipose tissue shows site-specific differences in fatty acid composition

Abstract

Adipose tissue was obtained from six women undergoing liposuction twice at 6-mo intervals. Samples obtained bilaterally from abdomen, inner thigh, and outer thigh had fatty acids quantified by gas chromatography. There were no important differences between sides or over time. The saturates 14:0, 16:0, 18:0, and 20:0 were higher in abdominal adipose than in outer thigh (P < 0.002 for all); 16:1 and 18:1 omega 9 were lower in abdomen vs outer thigh (P < 0.01), whereas 18:1 omega 7 and 20:1 omega 9 were unchanged. Polyunsaturates 18:2 omega 6, 20:3 omega 6, and 20:4 omega 6 were higher in outer thigh than in abdomen (P < 0.06), and inner thigh values were intermediate. These changes in fatty acid composition resulted in lower mean triglyceride melting points from abdomen to inner thigh to outer thigh, and suggest that temperature may influence the selection process determining the variation in adipose fatty acid composition with anatomical location. Because the site-specific differences included essential fatty acids, selective uptake as well as potential differences in in situ fatty acid modification are indicated.

Abdominal vs buttock adipose fat: relationships with children's serum lipid levels

“…This is in agreement with adult studies indicating elevated proportions of saturated fatty acids and reduced proportions of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat in abdominal as opposed to buttock depots (Malcom et al, 1989;Phinney et al, 1994;Schafer & Overvad, 1990). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of abdominal vs buttock adipose tissue fatty acids in children.…”

“…However, this has not as yet been tested in either children or adults. Moreover, there are indications that, in adults, abdominal adipose tissue has a less favorable fatty acid content than that of thigh or buttock depots, namely elevated proportion of saturated fatty acids and reduced proportions of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat (Malcom et al, 1989;Phinney et al, 1994;Schafer & Overvad, 1990). However, whether this is also true for children is not yet known.…”

Human fatty acid synthesis is stimulated by a eucaloric low fat, high carbohydrate diet.

“…For each subject, the difference between sites was small. There was slightly higher 16:0 (mean 20.8 vs. 18.3%) and lower 9c-18:1 (mean 38.4 vs. 40.7%) in abdominal versus gluteal adipose tissue, with minimal difference in 18:2 (mean 16.5 vs. 16.3%) or other polyunsaturates, as reported previously (24,25).…”

Markers of de novo lipogenesis in adipose tissue: associations with small adipocytes and insulin sensitivity in humans

“…In addition, in our study abdominal adipose tissue was investigated, whereas in the study by Sjögren et al thigh fat was studied [16]. These two fat depots are known to have different relationships with disease risk factors [39,40] and different FA composition [41], and thus there may be different relationships with gene expression and certain FA ratios. In addition, our studies showed that the correlations between IS, expression of genes involved in DNL, and the proxy SCD activity ratio, 18:1 n-9/18:0, and the proxy FA elongase activity ratio, 18:0/16:0, were in fact dominated by the content of 18:0 in adipose TG.…”