- Title
- Omega-3 index, obesity and insulin resistance in children
- Creator
- Burrows, T.; Collins, C. E.; Garg, M. L.
- Relation
- International Journal of Pediatric Obesity Vol. 6, Issue 2-2, p. e532-e539
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/17477166.2010.549489
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2011
- Description
- Objectives: Recent studies in adults have suggested that the plasma level of omega-3 fatty acids may be associated with weight status and abdominal adiposity, limited studies exist in paediatric populations. The present study examined the relationship between the omega-3 index, weight status and insulin resistance in children. Methods: School-age children between 5–12 years, classified as non-obese or obese on the basis of body mass index (BMI) z-scores, were examined. Fat intake was assessed using a parent reported 135-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Erythrocyte fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography. The Omega-3 index (O3I) was calculated by adding eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid % (weight/weight) values. Results: Obese children had altered erythrocyte fatty acid composition unrelated to reported dietary intake. A greater proportion of obese (BMI z-score > 2.25) children (33%) had an omega-3 index of < 4.0 (high risk) compared with non-obese children (BMI z-score < 2.25) (17%). Simultaneously, the number of children with a higher omega-3 index (6.0–8.0 lower risk) was lower in the obese (13%) versus non-obese children (25%, respectively). A moderate, but statistically significant correlation was found between O3I and fasting insulin level (r = −0.3, P = 0.03) and with homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) scores (r = −0.3, P = 0.04). Conclusion: The observed association between the omega-3 index, weight status and insulin resistance in children highlights the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of obesity-related chronic diseases in later life. The results presented merits confirmation in a larger sample of obese children.
- Subject
- pediatric; obesity; omega-3 fatty acids; omega-3 index; erythrocytes; insulin resistance; glucose; HOMA score
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/936874
- Identifier
- uon:12427
- Identifier
- ISSN:1747-7166
- Language
- eng
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