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Whole-blood fatty acids and inflammation in European children: the IDEFICS Study

E M González-Gil1, J Santabárbara2,3, A Siani4

  • 1GENUD (Growth, Exercise, NUtrition and Development) Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|January 14, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Whole-blood fatty acids (WBFAs) show sex-specific associations with inflammation markers in children. While n-6 WBFAs like linoleic acid correlate with lower inflammation in boys, they are linked to higher inflammation in girls.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
  • Biomarkers of Inflammation

Background:

  • Fatty acids (FAs) are implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk due to their inflammatory effects.
  • Understanding FA-inflammation links is crucial for pediatric health.
  • Whole-blood fatty acids (WBFAs) provide a comprehensive measure of dietary and endogenous FA status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between WBFAs and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a key inflammation marker.
  • To explore potential sex differences in the relationship between WBFAs and hs-CRP in European children.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of 1401 children (aged 2-9 years) from the IDEFICS study.
  • Categorization of subjects based on hs-CRP levels.
  • Logistic regression models adjusted for BMI, country, age, breastfeeding, maternal education, and physical activity.

Main Results:

  • In boys, linoleic acid (LA) and total n-6 WBFAs were associated with lower hs-CRP.
  • In girls, a higher eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/arachidonic acid (AA) ratio correlated with lower hs-CRP.
  • Conversely, in girls, sum of n-6 highly unsaturated FAs, AA, and the AA/LA ratio were linked to higher hs-CRP.

Conclusions:

  • Sex-specific associations exist between n-6 WBFAs and hs-CRP in children.
  • N-6 WBFAs are linked to reduced inflammation in boys but increased inflammation in girls.
  • Further research is needed to determine optimal WBFA levels for preventing inflammation, considering sex and BMI variations.
Abstract

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