Erythrocyte fatty acid composition and insulin sensitivity in daughters of Type 2 diabetic patients and women with no family history of diabetes

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 33; no. 5; pp. 306 - 312
• Main Authors: Ntali, G, Koutsari, C, Karakike, K, Makras, P, Skopouli, F, Mc Milan, M, Slater, C, Higgins, S, Zampelas, A, Malkova, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2010
• ISSN: 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.3275/6721

BACKGROUNDThere is evidence that the impact of environmental factors on insulin sensitivity is modified by the presence of family history of diabetes. AIMTo compare the association between the erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition (a biomarker of dietary fatty acids) and insulin sensitivity in daughters of Type 2 diabetic patients with the corresponding association in women without family history of diabetes. MATERIAL/SUBJECTS AND METHODSEighteen offspring of Type 2 diabetic patients [age 30+/-6.5 yr; body mass index (BMI) 22.2+/-2.5 kg/m2; body fat 31.8+/-5.1%] and 18 matched women (age 30.1+/-6.8 yr; BMI 22.2+/-1.8 kg/m2; body fat 32.2+/-6.0%) participated in the study. RESULTSInsulin Sensitivity Index (ISI)-Matsuda tended to be lower (p=0.06) in the Offspring than the control group. Weight proportions of erythrocyte phospholipid saturated (SFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were similar between the two groups. In the offspring, erythrocyte total SFA were negatively correlated with ISI-Matsuda [r=-0.47, p<0.05), ISI(gly)-Belfiore (r=-0.52, p<0.05) and ISI(ffa)-Belfiore (r=-0.53, p<0.05)], whereas total PUFA were positively correlated with insulin sensitivity [ISI-Matsuda, r=0.46, p<0.05; ISI(gly)-Belfiore, r=0.53, p<0.05; ISI(ffa)-Belfiore, r=0.54, p<0.05]. No significant correlations were observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONSThe associations between erythrocyte fatty acid composition and insulin sensitivity are distinct between daughters of Type 2 diabetic patients and women without family history of diabetes.