Increased Amount of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Intestinal Contents of Patients with Morbid Obesity

Abstract

Introduction Obesity is associated with disturbed gut microbiota homeostasis that translates into altered intestinal and blood metabolite profiles. The long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) may be absorbed in the intestine, but until now, their composition in intestinal contents of patients with obesity has not been studied. The aim of the present study was to verify whether obesity is related to any changes in fecal LCFA content and whether intestinal LCFA content may be associated with the health status of patients with obesity. Methods The fatty acid composition has been studied in stool samples obtained from 26 patients with morbid obesity and 25 lean subjects by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The dietary habits were assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ-6). Results Our results show for the first time that lean subjects and patients with obesity differ in their stool LCFA profiles. The levels of most n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and n-6 PUFAs were significantly higher in fecal samples from people with obesity than in those from lean controls. Conclusions Based on the current knowledge, we have defined three hypotheses that may explain proving the cause-and-effect relationships observed differences in fecal LCFA profiles between patients with obesity and lean subjects. They may be related to alterations in fat digestion and/or LCFA absorption and diet. However, proving the cause-and-effect relationships requires further research. Graphical Abstract

Gut Microbiome and Lipidome Signatures in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients from a Low-Income, Food-Desert Area: A Pilot Study

“…Lipidome analysis of our fecal samples showed lower concentrations of fecal gamma linolenic acid in all subtypes of IBS patients than in healthy controls. Gamma linolenic acid has anti-inflammatory properties in multiple human tissues, and there could be multiple reasons for its lower concentration in IBS patients, including dietary differences, microbial metabolism of gamma linolenic acid/its precursors, or changes in enterocyte absorption/metabolism [69][70][71].…”

Targeting the Inflammatory Hallmarks of Obesity-Associated Osteoarthritis: Towards Nutraceutical-Oriented Preventive and Complementary Therapeutic Strategies Based on n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

“…Interestingly, a diet rich in different FAs also contributes differently to the development of endotoxemia by the direct stimulation of TLR4 by SFAs, acting as non-microbial agonists. In contrast, a Mediterranean diet containing higher amounts of PUFA-rich foods [84] reduces LPS toxicity, one of the key pathways involved in ObOA [62]. Moreover, ObOA is associated with reduced bacterial diversity, an altered presentation of bacterial genes and changes in metabolic pathways [85,86]; changes in microbe-associated lipid metabolites differently activate the innate immune system in ObOA [87].…”

“…(Figure 2). Interestingly, a slower digestion and/or the absorption of fats rich in PUFAs have been postulated as some of the reasons for the observed increased PUFA levels in obese patients [84].…”

The Physiological and Pathological Role of Acyl-CoA Oxidation

“…In blood, FAs are present as components of lipids in (a) cell membranes (mainly in erythrocytes and white blood cells), (b) lipoproteins (mainly in chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL, and HDL), and (c) FFAs mostly bound to albumin. The major FAs in the whole lipids in the blood are palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), and arachidonic acid (C20:4) [19,20]. The concentration of FFAs in the serum increases during exercise or fasting, and they are mainly used as FAO substrates in skeletal muscles, the heart, liver, and kidney [21].…”