Fatty acids in multiple circulating lipid fractions reflects the composition of liver triglycerides in humans
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2022

Background and aims: Fatty acids (e.g. 16:1n-7) and desaturase indices (e.g. stearoyl-CoA desaturase, SCD) in plasma cholesteryl esters (CE) and phospholipids (PL) are used as biomarkers of dietary fat quality and lipid metabolism and are associated with disease outcomes. Endogenously produced circulating fatty acids are believed to reflect composition of the liver, yet little data exist to support such relationship. We investigated associations between circulating fatty acids and fatty acids within the liver. Methods: Liver biopsies and blood were collected from n = 60 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fatty acids in CE, PL and triglycerides (TG) in plasma and liver were analyzed using gas chromatography. Associations were assessed using Spearman rank correlations. Results: Overall, fatty acids and desaturase indices in plasma PL and TG showed moderate–strong correlations with fatty acids and desaturase indices in corresponding lipid fractions in liver. For plasma CE, 16:1n-7 and SCD were correlated with 16:1n-7 and SCD in liver CE. Noteworthy, fatty acids in plasma CE and PL also showed moderate–strong correlations with fatty acids in liver TG (e.g. r = 0.82–0.87 for 16:1n-7 and r = 0.77 for SCD). Conclusion: We demonstrate that fatty acids in circulating lipid fractions, including CE, TG and PL, reflects the composition of liver TG in humans, suggesting that circulating fatty acids might be useful biomarkers for the fatty acid composition of the liver. As liver tissue is rarely available in cohort studies, our findings could enhance our understanding of plasma fatty acids as markers of hepatic lipid metabolism and their links to metabolic diseases.

Triglycerides

Cholesteryl esters

Phospholipids

SCD

NAFLD

Fatty acids

Författare

Fredrik Rosqvist

Institutionen för folkhälso- och vårdvetenskap

Michael Fridén

Institutionen för folkhälso- och vårdvetenskap

Johan Vessby

Uppsala universitet

Paul Hockings

Antaros Medical AB

Chalmers, Elektroteknik, Signalbehandling och medicinsk teknik

Johannes Hulthe

Antaros Medical AB

Anders Gummesson

Sahlgrenska universitetssjukhuset

Heiko G. Niessen

Boehringer Ingelheim

Christian Schultheis

Boehringer Ingelheim

Alkwin Wanders

Aalborg Sygehus

Aalborg Universitet

Håkan Ahlström

Antaros Medical AB

Uppsala universitet

Fredrik Rorsman

Uppsala universitet

Ulf Risérus

Institutionen för folkhälso- och vårdvetenskap

Clinical Nutrition

0261-5614 (ISSN) 15321983 (eISSN)

Vol. 41 4 805-809

Ämneskategorier

Annan klinisk medicin

Gastroenterologi

Näringslära

DOI

10.1016/j.clnu.2022.02.005

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2022-04-28