Site differences in the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese women

Abstract

I. Adipose tissue samples were obtained by needle biopsy from three subcutaneous sites (thigh, abdomen and upper arm) in twenty-two obese women. The fatty acid composition was determined using gas-liquid chromatography and the results presented relate to eleven component fatty acids.2. The fatty acid composition of adipose tissue obtained from the arm and abdomen was remarkably similar, with the exception of the levels of lauric acid.3. The analyses showed that the majority of the saturated fatty acids were present in smaller proportions whilst the majority of unsaturated fatty acids were present in larger proportions in the thigh than in the two other sites. Highly significant inter-site differences were demonstrated for six of the major fatty acids and also for both the total amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and their ratios. 4.N o marked differences in the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue from obese subjects were revealed during this study when compared with previously reported results obtained from 'normal-weight' subjects.Although numerous studies have been carried out to elucidate the biochemical and metabolic pathways of adipose tissue, comparatively few have dealt with fatty acid (FA) composition of adipose tissue.In the early 1960s several workers in East and South Africa investigated the FA composition of adipose tissue from adults of different ethnic origins. MacLaren et al. (1962) showed that, with the exception of lauric and myristic acids, abdominal fat samples from three racial groups were very similar despite marked dietary differences. A similar conclusion was reached by Krut & Bronte-Stewart (1964) who also showed no effect of age on depot fat composition of adults of three races, but higher ratios for monounsaturated: saturated FA in women than in men.In 1965, MacLaren and his co-workers (MacLaren et a/. 1969, investigating the adipose tissue FA composition of prematures, infants and adults in Lebanon, found in four adults and one 12-year-old child that the amounts of palmitoleic acid were significantly lower and those of stearic acid higher, in fat obtained from deep sites compared to that from superficial sites. This finding was not confirmed in two studies made in England by Heffernan (1963) and Brook (1971). Several of these authors reported some inter-site differences between the proportion of one or two major FA in the adipose tissue of the leg and of the abdomen.Adipose tissue FA composition has been investigated for its possible relationship to atherosclerosis and diabetes (Antonini et al. 1970), myocardial infarction (Kirkeby et al. 1972) and coronary heart diseases (Lang et al. 1977).The purpose of this investigation was to compare the FA composition of adipose tissue from three different subcutaneous sites (upper arm, thigh and abdomen) obtained from obese female subjects.

Adipose Tissue as a Medium for Epidemiologic Exposure Assessment

“…Subcutaneous (from buttock and abdomen) and deep body sites (interscapular, perirenal) were shown by Brook CGD (56) to be similar in their composition. Peripheral areas were found to contain a greater proportion of monounsaturated and less saturated fatty acids, but did not differ in their linoleic acid content (51,56). Brown fat of rats was found to contain much higher proportions of stearic and lauric acid than white adipose tissue at the expense of lower proportions of oleic and palmitoleic acid (57).…”

“…For one, it has been suggested that in addition to the fatty acid pool with slow turnover, another kinetically distinct pool of fatty acids may exist in adipose tissue which may have a half-life as short as 70 days (39). Adipose tissue turnover also appears to differ between femoral, gluteal, and abdominal sites (51). Finally, halflives may differ between fatty acids (52).…”

“…Any of these may affect fat composition (51,55), although the current level of knowledge does not allow accurate predictions of their quantitative effects. Attempts at correlating dietary intakes of various groups of fatty acids with adipose tissue levels have shown that the strength of association varies greatly, depending upon the method of dietary assessment used to determine intakes, and the groups of fatty acids being examined.…”

The Role of the Novel Lipokine Palmitoleic Acid in Health and Disease

“…For example, the calf adipose depot contains more palmitoleic acid (6%) than the trapezius (3%), perirenal (4%), and mesenteric (4%) depots (49). Also, palmitoleate in subcutaneous adipose tissue in the upper arm and thigh is more abundant than in abdominal subcutaneous fat (50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55). Interestingly, the content of palmitoleic acid in adipose tissue decreases with age.…”

Does Transferred Fat Retain Properties of its Site of Origin?

“…A study by Malcom and colleagues 2 showed that subcutaneous abdominal fat has higher saturated fat than buttock fat, and buttock adipose has more monounsaturated fat than abdominal fat. Pittet and colleagues 3 have also shown differences in fatty acid composition between subcutaneous fat from the abdomen, thigh, and upper arm in 22 obese women. They also noted no marked differences in the composition of adipose tissue from these obese subjects when compared with normal weight people.…”