Anthropometric, metabolic, and dietary fatty acids characteristics in lean and obese dyslipidemic Asian Indian women in Calcutta.

BACKGROUND

The precise etiology and mechanisms leading to the development of increasing incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Asian Indians remains incompletely understood. There is evidence that women in this population may have comparatively greater risk factors (e.g., dyslipidemia) for CHD than men.

OBJECTIVE

To determine how dietary fatty acids composition could be used to identify Asian Indian women who are at greater risk of obesity and dyslipidemia.

METHODS

The present cross-sectional study comprised of 130 (Group I: lean control, n=40; Group II: lean dyslipidemic, n=45; and Group III: obese dyslipidemic, n=45) Asian Indian women (> or =30 years) living in Calcutta, India and the surrounding suburbs. Anthropometric measures, lipoproteins, plasma glucose, and intake of dietary fatty acids were obtained from each participant. Obesity measures were subsequently calculated from anthropometric measures. Conversion of foods into nutrients was done according to standard nutritive values of Indian foods.

RESULTS

ANOVA with Duncan's post-hoc test revealed significant group differences for anthropometric measures, lipids profiles, blood glucose, and dietary fatty acids. Pearson's partial correlations (controlling for age) also revealed that central obesity measure had a significant association with dietary fatty acids and their ratios. Discriminant function analysis revealed that overall, 80% of all entries were positively (correctly) classified in three groups using fatty acids and their ratios.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary fatty acids composition is related to indicators of obesity. The recent shift in dietary habits may have caused an increase in the prevalence of obesity and dyslipidemia in this region.