Endothelial dysfunction and serum fatty acid composition in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Metabolism, clinical and experimental Vol. 57; no. 9; pp. 1167 - 1172
• Main Authors: Perassolo, Magda S, Almeida, Jussara C, Steemburgo, Thais, Dall'Alba, Valesca, de Mello, Vanessa D.F, Zelmanovitz, Themis, de Azevedo, Mirela J, Gross, Jorge L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.09.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Albuminuria - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diet; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinology & Metabolism; Endocrinopathies; Endothelin-1 - blood; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Fatty Acids - blood; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - blood; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Endocrinopathy; Type 2 diabetes; Human; Dysfunction; Endothelial dysfunction; Lipids; Metabolic diseases; Serum; Fatty acids; Endocrinology; Endothelium
• DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.006
• ISSN: 0026-0495

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between serum fatty acid s composition and endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 125 normo- or microalbuminuric type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL. Serum fatty acids composition (gas chromatography), serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), fibrinogen, serum C-reactive protein, lipids, homeostasis model assessment resistance index (HOMA-R), and 24-hour urinary albumin excretion rate were measured. Serum levels of ET-1 were positively correlated with saturated fatty acids ( r = 0.257, P = .025) and negatively correlated with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ( r = −0.319, P = .005). Serum ET-1 levels were also positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, total cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and HOMA-R. In multiple linear regression models, only saturated fatty acids ( R2 = 0.317, P = .002) or PUFAs ( R2 = 0.314, P = .001) remained associated with ET-1 levels. Models were adjusted for systolic blood pressure, HOMA-R, waist circumference, triglycerides, body mass index, and smoking habit. The serum total PUFA levels showed an inverse correlation with urinary albumin excretion rate ( r = −0.248, P = .012). In conclusion, in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, the serum fatty acids composition was independently related to endothelial function evaluated by serum ET-1. Saturated fatty acids were associated with endothelial dysfunction (high levels of ET-1), whereas PUFAs had a protective role in endothelial function.