Visceral fat thickness in overweight men correlates with alterations in serum fatty acid composition

BackgroundWe examined relationships between visceral fat amount and alterations in serum fatty acid composition, both of which represent critical factors in the development of metabolic syndrome.MethodsCorrelations were analyzed between visceral fat thickness as measured by ultrasonography and proportions of individual fatty acids in 21 normal-weight and 24 overweight Japanese men.ResultsSignificant associations were identified in overweight subjects. Visceral fat thickness displayed positive correlations to levels of palmitic acid and saturated fatty acids (r = 0.475, P < 0.05 and r = 0.545, P < 0.01, respectively); and negative correlations to levels of linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids (r = − 0.513, P < 0.05 and r = − 0.428, P < 0.05, respectively). Visceral fat thickness was also correlated with estimated desaturase activities, with positive correlations to Δ9- and Δ6-desaturase activities and negative correlations to Δ5-desaturase activity (r = 0.580, P < 0.01, r = 0.669, P < 0.01 and r = − 0.559, P < 0.01, respectively). No significant associations were identified in normal-weight subjects.ConclusionsSignificant associations between visceral fat amount and alterations in serum fatty acid composition were identified, but only in overweight individuals.