Identification and Association of Fatty Acid Profile and Inflammation in Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome

Plasma fatty acid composition reflects dietary intake, as well as endogenous metabolism of fatty acids, which may be impaired in metabolic diseases. In adults, analysis of plasma fatty acids and their metabolism have been used to characterize their role in inflammation and obesity-related diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), however evidence in the pediatric population is scarce. To the best of knowledge, there are no studies in T2DM pediatric patients focused on the quantification of fatty acid profiles and their potential relationship with inflammation markers. The objective of this study was to determine the association between the plasma fatty acid composition and inflammatory markers in pediatric Mexican patients with T2DM, Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and healthy controls (HC). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were determined. Plasma fatty acid profiles were quantified by gas chromatography and plasma cytokines by flow-cytometry. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to establish differences and relationships between response variables investigated in the clinical groups. Patients with T2DM and MetS had distinct fatty acid profiles despite similarities between anthropometric and metabolic parameters. Higher proportions of C8:0 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), lower n-3 PUFA and estimated delta-5-desaturase (D5D) activity could place MetS patients at higher risk of developing T2DM and cardiovascular disease. Despite having higher proportions of anti-inflammatory n-3 PUFAs, patients with T2DM had a pro-inflammatory profile characterized by higher proportions of C16:0 and elevated chemokines MCP-1, IL-8 and IL-18 concentrations. Higher percent contributions of odd chain saturated fatty acid (OCSFA) C17:0 were observed in plasma of patients with MetS and T2DM; its metabolic significance requires further research but a possible protective role in the reduction of inflammation seems to be supported by prior literature. Plasma monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) 18:1 n-9 and 16:1 n-7 appear to have a dual role in inflammation depending on the obese state. Characterization of the fatty acid profiles of a pediatric population with MetS and T2DM generated new knowledge of specific compounds such as C8:0 and C17:0, which may play a role in progression of obesity induced IR and inflammation to T2DM.