Published in:
01-09-2015 | Original Article
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid levels and obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes
Published in: Diabetology International | Issue 3/2015
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Introduction
We examined the correlation between blood levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), which belongs to the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and obesity in type 2 diabetic patients.
Subjects and Methods
The subjects were 62 type 2 diabetic patients (age 63.3 ± 9.3 years; 35 males and 27 females) who were not taking eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) agents and were divided into two groups, i.e., an obese group (n = 29) with BMIs >25 kg/m2 and non-obese group (n = 33) with BMIs <25 kg/m2. For the blood PUFA, we measured DGLA, arachidonic acid (AA), EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and compared them between the two groups.
Results
The blood DGLA level was found to be significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the obese group (39.2 ± 12.0 μg/ml) than in the non-obese group (32.1 ± 9.5 μg/ml). The DGLA/AA ratio was also significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the obese group (0.24 ± 0.09) than in the non-obese group (0.19 ± 0.06). However, no significant differences were found in the blood levels of the AA, EPA, DHA or EPA/AA ratios between the two groups. The blood DGLA level showed a significant, positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.367, p < 0.01), waist circumference (r = 0.336, p < 0.01), AST (r = 0.262, p < 0.05), ALT (r = 0.291, p < 0.05), blood triglyceride (r = 0.439, p < 0.0001) and leptin level (r = 0.464, p < 0.001), respectively.
Conclusion
These results suggest that high levels of blood DGLA in type 2 diabetic patients with obesity may be attributable to an excessive intake of n-6-PUFA and the decrease in desaturase activity converting DGLA to AA.