Abstract
Objectives. Recent studies in adults have suggested that the plasma level of omega-3 fatty acids may be associated with weight status and abdominal adiposity, limited studies exist in paediatric populations. The present study examined the relationship between the omega-3 index, weight status and insulin resistance in children. Methods. School-age children between 5–12 years, classified as non-obese or obese on the basis of body mass index (BMI) z-scores, were examined. Fat intake was assessed using a parent reported 135-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Erythrocyte fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography. The Omega-3 index (O3I) was calculated by adding eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid % (weight/weight) values. Results. Obese children had altered erythrocyte fatty acid composition unrelated to reported dietary intake. A greater proportion of obese (BMI z-score > 2.25) children (33%) had an omega-3 index of < 4.0 (high risk) compared with non-obese children (BMI z-score < 2.25) (17%). Simultaneously, the number of children with a higher omega-3 index (6.0–8.0 lower risk) was lower in the obese (13%) versus non-obese children (25%, respectively). A moderate, but statistically significant correlation was found between O3I and fasting insulin level (r = −0.3, P = 0.03) and with homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) scores (r = −0.3, P = 0.04). Conclusion. The observed association between the omega-3 index, weight status and insulin resistance in children highlights the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of obesity-related chronic diseases in later life. The results presented merits confirmation in a larger sample of obese children.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank participating children and families, research personnel from the Nutraceutical research group responsible for fatty acid analysis.
Funding
The study was supported by the University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute and National Health and Medical Research Council. Clare Collins is NHMRC CDA Research Fellow.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. TB and CEC were responsible for study design and data collection. MLG responsible for fatty acid analysis. All authors developed and approved the final manuscript.