Levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in obese schoolchildren with and without insulin resistance.
الكلمات الدالة
نبذة مختصرة
BACKGROUND
Obesity in children is now an increasing health risk worldwide in which the insulin-resistance can be present. Studies have linked a diet rich in n-3 fatty acids with a lower prevalence of insulin-resistance.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid among obese children with and without insulin-resistance.
METHODS
In 56 randomly school-age children with obesity, insulin-resistance was determined by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin-resistance index and the serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid were determined by gas chromatography. Insulin-resistance was established when the index was >6.0, non- insulin- resistance when that index was within the range of 1.4-5.9. The serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid were compared with the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, as needed.
RESULTS
No differences in age or sex were identified among the groups studied. The anthropometric parameters were significantly higher in the group of children with insulin-resistance than in the other two groups. The children with insulin- resistance had significantly lower levels of eicosapentaenoic acid than the non- insulin-resistance group [12.4% area under the curve vs. 37.4%, p = 0.031], respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Obese primary school-aged children with insulin-resistance had lower plasma levels of eicosapentaenoic acid.