Polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma lipids of diabetic children during and after diabetic ketoacidosis

Abstract

Background and aim: Previously we reported significantly higher plasma values of the essential fatty acids but significantly lower values of their longer‐chain metabolites in diabetic children than in healthy controls. Here, we report data on the acute effect of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) on the fatty acid composition of plasma lipids. Methods: Diabetic children (n=9; age: 16.1 [3.3] y; duration of diabetes: 5.0 [5.3.] y; daily insulin dose: 0.87 [0.66] unit/kg body weight/d; glycated haemoglobin: 13.4 [2.8] %; median [IQR]) were investigated at admission for DKA (during DKA) and at the end of the treatment of DKA (after DKA). Fatty acid composition of plasma lipid classes was determined by high‐resolution capillary gas‐liquid chromatography. Results: Blood glucose (27.0 [8.5] vs 6.5 [1.6] mmol/l), pH (7.28 [0.35] vs 7.36 [0.06]) and base excess (−8.9 [15.1] vs −2.2 [6.3] mmol/l) were grossly abnormal during but not after DKA. Values of linoleic acid were significantly lower after than during DKA (non‐esterifed fatty acids (NEFA): 15.55 [1.47] vs 12.27 [5.74] % wt/wt; triacylglycerols (TG): 20.84 [9.23] vs 17.40 [5.78]; p<0.05). In contrast, values of gamma‐linolenic acid (NEFA: 0.87 [0.54] vs 2.34 [1.85]; p<0.05) and arachidonic acid (TG: 1.37 [0.71] vs 1.74 [0.57]; p<0.05) were significantly lower during than after DKA. The product/substrate ratios for delta‐6 desaturation were significantly lower during than after DKA. Conclusion: Successful treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis is associated with a significant increase of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid values in blood plasma in diabetic children. This observation suggests that disturbances of essential fatty acid metabolism in diabetic children are related not only to diet but to hypoinsulinaemia as well.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in a diabetic teenager during and after nine repeated episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis

“…However, they saw no effect of the recovery from DKA on the fatty acid composition of plasma lipid classes. In contrast, in our previous study (9) the values of the n‐6 essential fatty acid linoleic acid (C18:2n‐6, LA) significantly decreased, while values of AA and DHA significantly increased during the normalization of the DKA. However the considerably variability of fatty acid composition of plasma lipids between individuals may obscure some of the changes related to DKA.…”

Distinct patterns of fat metabolism in skeletal muscle of normal-weight, overweight, and obese humans

“…Recent biochemical studies have emphasized the roles of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in obesity and diabetes (8,19,20,42). For example, relatively high levels of saturated fatty acids and low levels of PUFAs are found in individuals with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome (17).…”

The profile of plasma non-esterified fatty acids in children with different terms of type 1 diabetes mellitus

“…Анализ суммарного содержания более 20-ти индивидуальных НЭЖК в плазме детей с разными сроками заболевания СД1 выявил увеличение в 1,6 раза общего уровня НЭЖК в обеих группах, то есть вне зависимости от срока заболевания СД1 по сравнению с детьми, не страдающими нарушением углеводного обмена. Ранее ферментативным методом было показано достоверное увеличение содержания общего уровня НЭЖК в плазме у детей с СД1 [13] и изменение содержания линоленовой и арахидоновой кислот [14].…”

“…Изменения НЭЖК плазмы крови при развитии сахарного диабета 1 типа (СД1) изучены не столь хорошо [13][14]. Определение суммарного содержания НЭЖК в липидном экстракте из плазмы крови проводят титриметрическим, колориметрическим и ферментативным методами [15][16][17].…”