Fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in Spanish infants and children

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 95; no. 1; pp. 168 - 173
• Main Authors: Sanjurjo, Pablo, AldámizEchevarría, Luis, Prado, Carmen, Azcona, Isabel, Elorz, Javier, Prieto, José A., Ruiz, José I., Rodríguez-Soriano, Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.01.2006
• Subjects: 8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid - analysis; Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - chemistry; Adolescent; adolescent nutrition; adolescents; Age; alpha-Linolenic Acid - analysis; arachidonic acid; Arachidonic Acid - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; body composition; Body fat; body fat distribution; Breastfeeding & lactation; Child; child nutrition; Child, Preschool; Children; Fatty acid composition; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infant; Infants; Insulin resistance; linoleic acid; linolenic acid; Lipids; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - chemistry; Musculoskeletal system; nutrition assessment; Nutrition research; nutritional status; oleic acid; Oleic Acid - analysis; Palmitic Acid - analysis; Pediatrics; phospholipids; Phospholipids - analysis; Plasma; risk factors; sarcoplasmic reticulum; school children; Skeletal muscle; Surgery; toddlers; Trends; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - analysis; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Spain; Fatty acid composition; Insulin resistance; Adipose tissue; Children; Skeletal muscle; Human; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Lipids; Infant; Striated muscle; Fatty acids; Child; Adipose tissue: Fatty acid composition: Insulin resistance: Skeletal muscle: Children
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1079/BJN20051605

There is a relationship between the fatty acid profile in skeletal muscle phospholipids and peripheral resistance to insulin in adults, but similar data have not been reported in infancy and childhood. The objective of this study was to investigate the fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue across the paediatric age range. The fatty acid profile of skeletal muscle phospholipids and adipose tissue triacylglycerols was analysed in ninety-three healthy Spanish infants and children distributed into four groups: group 1 (0 to <2 years, n 10); group 2 (2 to <5 years, n 41); group 3 (5 to <10 years, n 24); group 4 (10 to 15 years, n 18). In skeletal muscle phospholipids, oleic acid (18: 1n-9cis) content decreased significantly whereas that of linoleic (18: 2n-6) acid increased significantly with age (P for trend <0·01). In adipose tissue, the contents of triacylglycerol and linoleic acid increased significantly across the paediatric age range (P for trend <0·01), whereas dihomo-γ-linolenic (20: 3n-6) and arachidonic (20: 4n-6) showed significant differences between groups. The variations in fatty acid composition observed with age indicated an imbalance in dietary n-3/n-6 long-chain PUFA.