Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Pattern in Liver and Erythrocyte Phospholipids from Obese Patients

Abstract

ELIZONDO, ALEJANDRA, JULIA ARAYA, RAMÓ N RODRIGO, JAIME PONIACHIK, ATTILA CSENDES, FERNANDO MALUENDA, JUAN C. DÍAZ, CINZIA SIGNORINI, CRISTIANA SGHERRI, MARIO COMPORTI, AND LUIS A. VIDELA. Polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern in liver and erythrocyte phospholipids from obese patients Obesity. 2007;15:24 -31. Objective: Our aim was to study the fatty acid (FA) composition of liver phospholipids and its relation to that in erythrocyte membranes from patients with obese nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as an indication of lipid metabolism alterations leading to steatosis. Research Methods and Procedures: Eight control subjects who underwent antireflux surgery and 12 obese patients with NAFLD who underwent subtotal gastrectomy with a gastro-jejunal anastomosis in Roux-en-Y were studied. The oxidative stress status of patients was assessed by serum F 2 -isoprostanes levels (gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry). Analysis of FA composition of liver and erythrocyte phospholipids was carried out by gas-liquid chromatography. Results: Patients with NAFLD showed serum F 2 -isoprostanes levels 84% higher than controls. Compared with controls, liver phospholipids from obese patients exhibited significantly 1) lower levels of 20:4n-6, 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3 [docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)], total long-chain polyunsaturated FA (LCPUFA), and total n-3 LCPUFA, 2) higher 22:5n-6 [docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-6)] levels and n-6/ n-3 LCPUFA ratios, and 3) comparable levels of n-6 LCPUFA. Levels of DHA and DPAn-6 in liver were positively correlated with those in erythrocytes (r ϭ 0.77 and r ϭ 0.90, respectively; p Ͻ 0.0001), whereas DHA and DPAn-6 showed a negative association in both tissues (r ϭ Ϫ0.79, p Ͻ 0.0001 and r ϭ Ϫ0.58, p Ͻ 0.01, respectively), associated with lower DHA/DPAn-6 ratios. Discussion: Obese patients with NAFLD showed marked alterations in the polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern of the liver. These changes are significantly correlated with those found in erythrocytes, thus suggesting that erythrocyte FA composition could be a reliable indicator of derangements in liver lipid metabolism in obese patients.

Association of Blood Fatty Acid Composition and Dietary Pattern with the Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients Who Underwent Cholecystectomy

“…Epidemiologic studies report that an intake of fish [7] and n-3 PUFAs [8,32] as well as an erythrocyte level of n-3 PUFA [12,33] were negatively associated with the risk of NAFLD. Our previous study showed that hepatic content of triglycerides was decreased by the downregulation of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and the upregulation of hepatic triglyceride oxidation in rats fed n-3 PUFA [34].…”

“…Epidemiological studies also report that the risk of NAFLD is positively associated with an intake of saturated fatty acids [8], fructose from beverages [9], refined grain, red meat, and processed meat [10] and negatively associated with an intake of vegetables [11] and fish rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) [7]. In addition, Elizondo et al [12] showed that the erythrocyte level of n-3 PUFA, a marker for fish intake, was significantly lower in patients with NAFLD than healthy controls. Recent meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials consistently reported that n-3 PUFA supplementation could be a practical and effective treatment for NAFLD [13,14,15].…”

Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

“…Patients with NAFLD consume less n-3 PUFAs than controls [38,39.] A systematic review and meta-analysis showed that supplementation with n-3 PUFA decreases liver fat but does not have a statistically significant effect on ALT levels [40].…”

Morbid Obesity is Associated to Altered Fatty Acid Profile of Erythrocyte Membranes

“…In detail, we have found that a combination of high palmitoleic acid (C16:1), low polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (especially omega 6) and high endogenous trans fatty acids (TFA), that reflect a radical stress activity, are associated with longevity [6]. Elizondo et al demonstrated a correlation between liver and erythrocyte phospholipids PUFA from patients with obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and proposed the fatty acid in erythrocytes membranes as reliable biomarker of derangements in liver lipid metabolism in obese patients [7]. Petrescu et al comparing the uptake kinetics of 9,10-[3H] oleic acid by omental adipocytes isolated from obese and non-obese patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures, observed that in the obese subjects long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) uptake was up-regulated, suggesting that alterations in LCFA partitioning may contribute to the obese phenotype [8].…”