Estimated Elovl6 and delta-5 desaturase activities might represent potential markers for insulin resistance in Japanese adults.

PURPOSE

Results from a recent study indicated that lower stearic acid/palmitic acid (SA/PA) and arachidonic acid/dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (AA/DGLA) ratios were associated with metabolically unhealthy obesity. However, this has not been extensively studied in the Japanese population.

METHODS

We recruited 291 Japanese subjects with serum free fatty acid profiles undergoing health examinations. Whole serum desaturase activity was estimated as the product: precursor ratio -SA/PA ratio for elongation of long-chain fatty acid family member 6 (Elovl6) and AA/DGLA for delta-5 desaturase (D5D). The determinants of Elovl6 and D5D activity were investigated using multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

The Elovl6 and D5D activities exhibited a negative correlation with the logmatic-transformed TG/HDL-C ratio and TyG index. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the TG/HDL-C ratio and TyG index were negatively associated with Elovl6 and D5D activities. Most atherogenic markers were worse in the low Elovl6 or D5D activity group than in the high Elovl6 or D5D activity group. When study subjects were further stratified by TG levels, most atherogenic markers were the worst in the highest TG group in either the lowest Elovl6 or lowest D5D activity groups.

CONCLUSION

The estimated Elovl6 and D5D activities might be useful markers of insulin resistance in Japanese subjects.