leptin and palmitoleic-acid

Growing evidence supports a link between fatty acid metabolism and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we determined the fatty acid composition of blood lipids to identify markers of disease progression and survival. We enrolled 117 patients from two clinical centers and 48 of these were age and gender matched with healthy volunteers. We extracted total lipids from serum and blood cells, and separated fatty acid methyl esters by gas chromatography. We measured circulating biochemical parameters indicative of the metabolic status. Association between fatty acid composition and clinical readouts was studied, including ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R), survival, disease duration, site of onset and body mass index. Palmitoleate (16:1) and oleate (18:1) levels, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase indices (16:1/16:0 and 18:1/18:0) significantly increased in blood cells from ALS patients compared to healthy controls. Palmitoleate levels and 16:1/16:0 ratio in blood cells, but not body mass index or leptin concentrations, negatively correlated with ALSFRS-R decline over a six-month period (p<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis, with age, body mass index, site of onset and ALSFRS-R as covariables, showed that blood cell 16:1/16:0 ratio was an independent prognostic factor for survival (hazard ratio=0.1 per unit of ratio, 95% confidence interval=0.01-0.57, p=0.009). In patients with high 16:1/16:0 ratio, survival at blood collection was extended by 10 months, as compared to patients with low ratio. The 16:1/16:0 index is an easy-to-handle parameter that predicts survival of ALS patients independently of body mass index. It therefore deserves further validation in larger cohorts for being used to assess disease outcome and effects of disease-modifying drugs.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Disease Progression; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; Female; Humans; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Palmitic Acid; Prognosis; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Rate

Diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions in women of Amerindian origin. The risk of developing diabetes has been found to be related to the serum fatty acid composition in whites.. We prospectively investigated the relation between the serum cholesteryl fatty acid composition and changes in fasting plasma glucose concentrations in Peruvian Indian women who are characterized by hyperinsulinemia in comparison to white women.. A 5-y follow-up study of 73 women with normal fasting plasma glucose values was undertaken by performing a survey in 1999 and a follow-up survey in 2004. The studied variables included anthropometric measurements, plasma insulin and leptin, dietary food consumption from 24-h recall, blood pressure, and serum fatty acid composition.. The participants developed significantly higher fasting plasma glucose concentrations in 2004 compared with 1999 (P < 0.0001) with unaltered plasma insulin values. Palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) in 1999 was the only fatty acid that was significantly correlated to glucose concentration at follow-up. In a multiple regression analysis that included waist circumference, percentage of body fat, systolic blood pressure, and circulating triacylglycerol, insulin, leptin, and 16:1n-7 as independent determinants, 16:1n-7 and systolic blood pressure were the only significant determinants of plasma glucose concentration 5 y later.. A high proportion of 16:1n-7 in serum is an independent predictor of high plasma glucose concentrations in Amerindian women. The reason for this association remains to be elucidated.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adult; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hyperinsulinism; Indians, South American; Insulin; Leptin; Middle Aged; Peru; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies

Palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) is a product of endogenous lipogenesis. In human obesity, 16:1n-7 is reported to correlate with indexes of adiposity and insulin concentrations.. We investigated the relation between adiposity, especially in the abdominal region, and plasma monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) profiles in obese children.. A case-control study was performed. The study subjects were 59 obese children (x +/- SD age: 11.8 +/- 3.8 y) and 53 age- and sex-matched healthy, nonobese children (aged 12.5 +/- 0.5 y). The study's variables included anthropometric measurements, serum lipids, leptin, and fatty acid composition in plasma.. MUFA profiles of obese subjects showed a significantly higher content of 16:1n-7, 18:1n-9, and 20:1n-9 and significantly higher stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity (ratio of 16:1n-7 to 16:0) than in nonobese controls. In a multiple regression analysis, percentage body fat, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were significant determinants of 16:1n-7 content. SCD activity had a positive, significant correlation with leptin. However, in a multiple regression analysis that included percentage body fat, WHR, and leptin as independent determinants, WHR was the only determinant of SCD activity.. Plasma 16:1n-7 content has a significant relation with abdominal adiposity in obese children. This change in the MUFA profile may be caused by activation of SCD that is not sufficiently suppressed by leptin. Endogenous lipogenesis may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of obesity in children.

Topics: Abdomen; Adipose Tissue; Adolescent; Anthropometry; Body Composition; Case-Control Studies; Child; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; Female; Humans; Insulin; Leptin; Male; Obesity; Regression Analysis; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; Waist-Hip Ratio