Features of fatty acid indices in the assessment of metabolic disorders in obese adolescents

Introduction. The population strategy of modern healthcare is aimed at preventing obesity and its complications. The study of the spectrum of fatty acids is a progressive direction of lipidomics in the diagnosis of metabolic disorders. Aim. To evaluate the possibilities of calculated fatty acid indices in determining the risk of metabolic disorders in obese adolescents. Materials and methods . Single-center observational single-stage comparative study. The study sample consisted of 155 adolescents aged 10–15 years. The main group was represented by 101 participants – 45 boys and 56 girls with diagnosed obesity of exogenous constitutional type, 1–2 degrees (SDS BMI +2,0–+3,0 ). The control group included 54 healthy children with -1<SDS BMI <1: 28 girls and 26 boys. The calculation of SDS BMI was carried out using the WHO computer program “Anthro Plus” for the age category from 5 to 19 years. The levels of fatty acids in the blood serum were determined by chromatomass spectrometry. Results . Significantly lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and higher content of some monounsaturated ω-7 and ω-9 fatty acids, as well as the main representatives of the saturated fatty acid family, were observed in obese adolescents. The values of the ω-3 index, both for whole blood and for erythrocyte membranes, were statistically significantly reduced in the main group. Subintimal inflammatory reaction risk index and PUFA % index/%NLC had high values in boys and girls of both groups. The ω-6/ω-3 index on the background of obesity was increased only in boys. The activity of delta-6-desaturase did not differ statistically significantly between the groups. Conclusions. The presented indices (ω-3 index, risk index of subintimal inflammatory reaction, ω-6/ω-3 index, polyunsaturated/saturated LC index, ω-6 desaturase activity index) require additional study and specification of application conditions, reference values and interpretation rules, especially in the pediatric population.