Oleic acid to stearic acid ratio might be a potential marker for insulin resistance in non-obese Japanese

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition Vol. 68; no. 2; pp. 164 - 168
• Main Authors: Moriyama, Kengo, Kishimoto, Noriaki, Shiina, Yutaka, Urata, Nana, Masuda, Yumi, Oda, Kanae, Yamada, Chizumi, Takashimizu, Shinji, Kubo, Akira, Nishizaki, Yasuhiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN 01.03.2021; Japan Science and Technology Agency; the Society for Free Radical Research Japan
• Subjects: Aging; Cholesterol; Density; Fasting; Fatty acids; Glucose; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Markers; Obesity; Oleic acid; oleic acid to stearic acid ratio; Original; Regression analysis; Stearic acid; triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio; triglyceride-glucose index; Triglycerides; triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio; oleic acid to stearic acid ratio; insulin resistance; triglyceride-glucose index
• ISSN: 0912-0009; 1880-5086
• DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.20-95

Results from a recent study indicate that a higher level of oleic acid/stearic acid ratio was associated with metabolically unhealthy obesity. This was further validated in cross-sectional and interventional studies; however, this was not extensively studied in a non-obese population. We recruited 260 Japanese subjects with serum free fatty acid profiles undergoing anti-aging health examinations. The determinants for oleic acid/stearic acid ratio were investigated using multiple regression analyses. To compare different markers, the subjects were classified based on oleic acid/stearic acid ratio and the combination of oleic acid/stearic acid ratio and triglyceride levels. The oleic acid/stearic acid ratio exhibited a positive correlation with the logmatic transformed triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and the fasting triglycerides-glucose index, both of which were used as markers for insulin resistance. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and fasting triglyceride-glucose index were positively associated with the oleic acid/stearic acid ratio. Most markers were the worst in the highest triglyceride group in both oleic acid/stearic acid groups. In addition, most markers were worse in high oleic acid/stearic acid ratio group than low group. In conclusion, oleic acid/stearic acid ratio might be a useful marker for insulin resistance in non-obese Japanese subjects.