Key Findings:
Obesity is an increasing problem in school-age children in Bogotá, Colombia. This cross sectional study found that lower serum levels of ALA were associated with greater gains in adipose tissue. It was hypothesized that ALA may act in three ways: 1) enhancing the expression of genes involved in hepatic fat oxidation and thermogenesis to reduce fat synthesis; 2) substitute for LA in cell membranes which reduces generation of arachidonic acid. AA stimulates adipogenesis through prostacyclin synthesis and active cAMP pathways that precipitate adipocyte maturation; and 3) the oxidation of ALA limits weight gain in comparison to fatty acids that are preferentially stored.
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Studies in adults indicate that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition may play a role in development of adiposity. Because adipocyte quantity is established between late childhood and early adolescence, understanding the impact of PUFAs on weight gain during the school-age years is crucial to developing effective interventions. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We quantified N minus 3 and N minus 6 PUFAs in serum samples of 668 Colombian schoolchildren aged 5 to 12 years at the time of recruitment into a cohort study, using gas liquid chromatography. Serum concentrations of N 3 (alpha linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid) and N 6 PUFAs (linoleic acid, gamma linolenic acid, dihomo gamma linolenic acid, arachidonic acid) were determined as percentage total fatty acids. Children’s anthropometry was measured annually for a median of 30 months. We used mixed-effects models with restricted cubic splines to construct population body mass index for age z score (BAZ) growth curves for age and sex specific quartiles of each PUFA. RESULTS: N 3 ALA was inversely related to BAZ gain after adjustment for sex, baseline age and weight status, as well as household socioeconomic level. Estimated BAZ change between 6 and 14 years among children in the highest quartile of ALA compared with those in the lowest quartile was 0.45 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.07, 0.83) lower. CONCLUSIONS: N 3 ALA may be protective against weight gain in school age children. Whether improvement in PUFA status reduces adiposity in pediatric populations deserves evaluation in randomized trials.
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