Prospective study on the association between serum unsaturated fatty acids and insulin resistance among workers

Abstract

Summary: Objective: Although accumulating evidence suggests that unsaturated fatty acids play an important role in the development of insulin resistance (IR), prospective epidemiologic data on this relationship are scarce. We examined the association of baseline circulating unsaturated fatty acids with subsequent changes in insulin resistance in a Japanese working population. Methods: Participants were 1143 workers aged 22–71 years who were free from severe diseases at baseline and participated in a 3-year follow-up survey. Unsaturated fatty acid concentrations in serum were measured using a gas chromatograph. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate mean homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores at follow-up, with adjustment for baseline HOMA-IR and potential confounding variables. Results: Higher concentrations of total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and linoleic acid at baseline were associated with significantly lower HOMA-IR at follow-up (P for trend=0.001). Meanwhile, higher concentrations of total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and oleic acid and lower concentrations of nervonic acid were significantly associated with higher HOMA-IR at follow-up (P for trend ≤0.05). No clear association was found for total or individual n-3 PUFAs. Conclusions: The present results suggest that n-6 PUFAs, especially linoleic acid, may play a protective role against the development of IR. Of MUFAs, oleic acid may worsen IR, while nervonic acid may improve it.

Keywords

• Epidemiology
• Insulin resistance
• Japanese
• Prospective study
• Serum fatty acids