Associations of Fatty Acid Profile with Abdominal Obesity in Men.

The content of individual unsaturated fatty acids in blood plasma (measured by HPLC) and their association with abdominal obesity in a group of men (mean age 52.2 years) was analyzed. The abdominal obesity was diagnosed according to the criteria of the All-Russian Scientific Society of Cardiology (waist circumference >94 cm). Men with abdominal obesity had higher levels of ω-6 γ-linolenic and dihomo-γ-linolenic acids, as well as ω-3 eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. They also had significantly elevated plasma levels of triglycerides and glucose and lower levels of HDL. Using single-factor ROC analysis we determined optimal cut-off thresholds for fatty acid levels indicating the presence of abdominal obesity. The results of regression analysis showed that the level of γ-linolenic acid is directly associated with the chance of abdominal obesity.s.