Abstract
Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the etiology of
obesity and the associated lipid disturbances. We determined whether acquired
obesity is associated with changes in global serum lipid profiles independent
of genetic factors in young adult monozygotic (MZ) twins. 14 healthy MZ pairs
discordant for obesity (10 to 25 kg weight difference) and ten weight
concordant control pairs aged 24–27 years were identified from a large
population-based study. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by the euglycemic
clamp technique, and body composition by DEXA (% body fat) and by MRI
(subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat). Global characterization of lipid
molecular species in serum was performed by a lipidomics strategy using liquid
chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Obesity, independent of genetic
influences, was primarily related to increases in lysophosphatidylcholines,
lipids found in proinflammatory and proatherogenic conditions and to decreases
in ether phospholipids, which are known to have antioxidant properties. These
lipid changes were associated with insulin resistance, a pathogonomic
characteristic of acquired obesity in these young adult twins. Our results
show that obesity, already in its early stages and independent of genetic
influences, is associated with deleterious alterations in the lipid metabolism
known to facilitate atherogenesis, inflammation and insulin resistance.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e218 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | PLoS ONE |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |