Omega-3 index, obesity and insulin resistance in children
- 1 June 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Pediatric Obesity
- Vol. 6 (2-2), e532-e539
- https://doi.org/10.3109/17477166.2010.549489
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.Keywords
This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Western-like fat diet is sufficient to induce a gradual enhancement in fat mass over generationsJournal of Lipid Research, 2010
- Omega‐3 Index and cardiovascular disease prevention: principle and rationaleLipid Technology, 2010
- Plasman-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are negatively associated with obesityBritish Journal of Nutrition, 2009
- Obesity‐induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis are alleviated by ω‐3 fatty acids: a role for resolvins and protectinsThe FASEB Journal, 2009
- Reproducibility and comparative validity of a food frequency questionnaire for Australian children and adolescentsInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2009
- Type 2 Diabetes in Youth: Epidemiology and Current Research toward Prevention and TreatmentJournal of the American Dietetic Association, 2008
- Temporal changes in dietary fats: Role of n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in excessive adipose tissue development and relationship to obesityProgress in Lipid Research, 2006
- The Omega-3 Index: a new risk factor for death from coronary heart disease?Preventive Medicine, 2004
- STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND DIETARY REGULATION OF Δ6, Δ5, AND Δ9 DESATURASESAnnual Review of Nutrition, 2004
- Abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome in a southern European populationEuropean Journal of Internal Medicine, 2003