Plasma Very Long Chain Fatty Acids Levels And Its Relationship With Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha In Obese Children

OBJECTIVES:To investigate the changes in plasma very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and further to explore its relationship with tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) in obese children, in order to provide the scientific evidence for prevention and treatment of obesity in children.METHODS: Children aged 7 to 12 years old from 5 primary schools in Changsha and the out-patient clinic of Xiangya hospital were investigated.Obesity was assessed by the method of body mass index (BMI).166 obese and 148 health children matched with age and sex were randomly selected and their height (Ht), weight(Wt),waist circumference (WC), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were tested. The percentage of body fat (PBF) was tested by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was detected by glucose oxidase.The plasma fasting insulin (FINS) was examined by radioimmunoassay.The plasma TNF-αwas examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA). The BMI, waist to height ratio (WHtR), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated.The plasma VLCFAs were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS:①The plasma levels of FINS, TNF-αand HOMA-IR increased in obese children compared to non-obese children.②The levels of C22:ln-9,C20:2n-7 and arachidonic acid (AA) decreased,while C20:0 and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) increased in obese children compared to non-obese children; the linear correlation analysis showed that PBF was positively correlated with C20:0 and EPA, and negatively correlated with AA;WHtR was negatively correlated with C22:1n-9 and positively correlated with C20:0.③The plasma TNF-αwas positively correlated with EPA and ducosahexenoic acid (DHA).CONGLUSION:①The metabolic abnormality of plasma very long chain fatty acids exists in obese children,and the abnomal profiles are characterized by decreased C22:ln-9,C20:2n-7 and AA,and increased C20:0 and EPA.②The change of EPA may be associated with TNF-α.