Fatty Acids in Childhood Obesity: A Link Between Nutrition, Metabolic Alterations and Cardiovascular Risk

Childhood obesity, affected by dietary choices, increases cardiovascular risk. Obesity is associated with inflammation and altered glucose, iron and lipid metabolism. This study explores connections between dietary habits, plasma fatty acid profile, cardiovascular risk factors and childhood obesity.

We conducted a case-control study including 20 children and adolescents with obesity and 20 controls. Anthropometric parameters and food frequency questionnaires were registered. Glucose metabolism, iron parameters, lipid profile, fatty acids profile, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂), cholesteryl ester transfer protein and paraoxonase 1 (PON 1) activities were evaluated. Correlation, regression and mediation analyses were performed.

The group with obesity consumed more bakery products and less cereals, and presented higher myristic, palmitoleic, margaric and gamma-linolenic acids, along with lower linoleic, arachidic, gadoleic, eicosatrienoic and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids (p<0.05). They also exhibited altered glucose metabolism, a more atherogenic lipid profile, higher Lp-PLA₂ and lower PON 1 activities (p<0.05). Consumption of several food groups correlated with metabolic alterations. Different correlations between pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and obesity-related fatty acids, and cardiometabolic biomarkers were found, including: myristic acid with Lp-PLA₂ (r=0.32, p<0.05), EPA acid with hs-CRP (r=-0.36, p<0.05) and gadoleic acid with PON1 (r=0.39, p<0.05). Mediation analyses revealed fatty acids and cardiometabolic markers as mediators of the association between dietary habits and obesity.

Children and adolescents with obesity presented disrupted glucose and lipid metabolism, vascular inflammation, attenuated antioxidant function and altered fatty acid composition. Direct and indirect associations between dietary habits, fatty acids, cardiometabolic markers and the presence of obesity were found.