Metabolic Syndrome: Modification of the Fatty Acid Composition and Glucose-insulin Homeostasis

Objective: Metabolic syndrome is a widespread disease associated with cardiovascular pathologies and diabetes mellitus. The underlying mechanisms for development of the metabolic syndrome are currently being intensively discussed. Contradictory data regarding the role of lipid metabolism disorders in trigger mechanisms of metabolic syndrome necessitate thorough analysis of the content of fatty acids in plasma and blood cells. The aim of our study was to examine the content of free and esterified fatty acids and the levels of eicosanoids in metabolic syndrome with various insulin resistance. We evaluate the role of fatty acids and their metabolites in the development of metabolic syndrome.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Vladivostok Branch of Far Eastern Scientific Center of Physiology and Pathology of Respiration – Research Institute of Medical Climatology and Rehabilitation Treatment, Russia, 2012-2013.
Materials/Methods: The study involved three groups of volunteers: 15 persons without components of the metabolic syndrome, 30 patients with metabolic syndrome and the normal insulin level, 31 patients with metabolic syndrome and diagnosed insulin resistance. We examined the levels of fasting glucose and glucose content after 2 hours of per oral glucose load, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, eicosanoids. The content of fatty acids in plasma and erythrocytes was analyzed by gas chromatography. Statistica software was used for data analysis.
Results: We detect reciprocal changes in the content of plasma and erythrocytes fatty acids in metabolic syndrome with and without insulin resistance. Such fatty acids as 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3 are accumulating in plasma, while 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 20:4n-6 in erythrocytes are in deficiency. The levels of eicosanoids in metabolic syndrome are elevated.
Conclusion: Our results determined the role of fatty acids and their metabolites in the development of the metabolic syndrome. We propose the concept of metabolic syndrome according to which the trigger for the development of the metabolic syndrome is the modification of the fatty acid composition of blood cells as the result of disorders in their receptor-mediated transport.