The role of fatty acids (FA) in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia is a subject of intensive research. Several recent works have suggested cis-vaccenic acid (cVA) in plasma lipi Show more
The role of fatty acids (FA) in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia is a subject of intensive research. Several recent works have suggested cis-vaccenic acid (cVA) in plasma lipid compartments, especially in plasma phospholipids (PL) or erythrocyte membranes, could be associated with markers of insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health. Nevertheless, not all the results of research work testify to these beneficial effects of cVA. Therefore, we decided to investigate the relations of proportion of cVA in plasma PL to markers of insulin resistance in hyperlipidemic men. In 231 men (median age 50) with newly diagnosed hyperlipidemia, we analyzed basic clinical parameters together with FA composition of plasma PL and stratified them according to the content of cVA into upper quartile (Q4) and lower quartile (Q1) groups. We examined also small control group of 50 healthy men. The individuals in Q4 differed from Q1 by lower plasma insulin (p < 0.05), HOMA-IR values (p < 0.01), and apolipoprotein B concentrations (p < 0.001), but by the higher total level of nonesterified FA (p < 0.01). Both groups had similar age, anthropometrical, and other lipid parameters. In plasma PL, the Q4 group had lower content of the sum of n-6 polyunsaturated FA, due to decrease of γ-linolenic and dihomo-γ-linolenic acids, whereas the content of monounsaturated FA (mainly oleic and palmitoleic) was in Q4 higher. Our results support hypothesis that plasma PL cVA could be associated with insulin sensitivity in men with hyperlipidemia. Show less
States associated with insulin resistance, as overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), some cancers and neuropsychiatric diseases are characterized with a dec Show more
States associated with insulin resistance, as overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), some cancers and neuropsychiatric diseases are characterized with a decrease of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) levels. Amounts of LC-PUFA depend on the exogenous intake of their precursors [linoleic (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA)] and by rate of their metabolism, which is influenced by activities of enzymes, such as Δ6-desaturase (D6D, FADS2), D5D, FADS1, elongases (Elovl2, -5, 6).Altered activities of D5D/D6D were described in plenty of diseases, e.g. neuropsychiatric (depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, dementia), metabolic (obesity, metabolic syndrome, DM2) and cardiovascular diseases (arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease), inflammatory states and allergy (Crohns disease, atopic eczema) or some malignancies. Similar results were obtained in studies dealing with the associations between genotypes/haplotypes of FADS1/FADS2 and above mentioned diseases, or interactions of dietary intake of LA and ALA on one hand and of the polymorphisms of minor allels of FADS1/FADS2, usually characterized by lower activities, on the other hand.The decrease of the desaturases activities leads to decreased concentrations of products with concomitant increased concentrations of substrates. Associations of some SNP FADS with coronary heart disease, concentrations of plasma lipids, oxidative stress, glucose homeostasis, and inflammatory reaction, were described. Experimental studies on animal models and occurrence of rare diseases, associated with missing or with marked fall activities of D5D/D6D emphasized the significance of desaturases for healthy development of organism as well as for pathogenesis of some disease. Show less