Non-esterified fatty acids as biomarkers of diet and glucose homeostasis in pregnancy: The impact of fatty acid reporting methods: NEFA reporting methods affect dietary and cardiometabolic endpoints. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Azab, Sandi M.; de Souza, Russell J.; Ly, Ritchie; Teo, Koon K.; Atkinson, Stephanie A.; Morrison, Katherine M.; Anand, Sonia S.; Britz-McKibbin, Philip
• Is Part Of: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids. Volume 176(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Serum non-esterified fatty acids -- Absolute concentrations -- Relative proportions -- Biomarkers of food intake -- Glucose homeostasis; Lipids -- Periodicals; Unsaturated fatty acids -- Periodicals; Prostaglandins -- Periodicals; Leukotrienes -- Periodicals; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated -- Periodicals; Acides gras insaturés -- Périodiques; Prostaglandines -- Périodiques; Leucotriènes -- Périodiques; Lipides -- Périodiques; 612.01577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2021.102378
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-3278

Abstract

Highlights: This study demonstrates the utility of specific NEFAs and their sub-classes as viable dietary and clinical biomarkers when reported as their relative proportions. Consistently stronger dietary correlations were observed when expressed as mol%. Glucose intolerance was positively associated with odd chain NEFAs as expressed in µM but inversely associated when expressed as mol%. Monounsaturated NEFAs (µM and mol%) had robust positive associations with pre-pregnancy BMI, second trimester skin-fold thickness, glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, and glucose intolerance. More research is needed to investigate inconsistencies between absolute concentrations and relative proportions when reporting fatty acids. Abstract: Background: Sparse data exists on the utility of individual serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) as clinical and dietary biomarkers and how reporting methods could affect these associations. We investigated the associations of 19 serum NEFAs expressed as µM or mol%, with self-reported dietary intake data, and cardiometabolic health indicators in pregnant women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 273 pregnant women in their second trimester each completed a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire and provided fasting serum samples. Comprehensive serum NEFA analysis was performed by multisegment injection-nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry. We evaluated the associations of NEFAs using two different reporting methods, with diet quality, specific foods intake, and measures of adiposity and glucose homeostasis. Results: Consistently stronger dietary correlations were observed when expressed as mol%. Serum ω -3 NEFAs were associated with diet quality and fish/fish oil daily servings (DHA mol%, r= 0.37; p = 4.8e-10), and odd-chain NEFAs were associated with full-fat dairy intake (15:0 mol%, r = 0.23; p = 9.0e-5). Glucose intolerance was positively associated with odd chain NEFAs as expressed in µM ( r = 0.21; p= 0.001) but inversely associated when expressed as mol% ( r = −0.31; p= 2.2e-7). In contrast, monounsaturated NEFAs (µM and mol%) had robust positive associations with pre-pregnancy BMI, second trimester skin-fold thickness, glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, and glucose intolerance. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the utility of specific NEFAs and their sub-classes as viable dietary and clinical biomarkers when reported as their relative proportions. More research is needed to investigate inconsistencies between absolute concentrations and relative proportions when reporting fatty acids.