Omega‐6 and omega‐3 oxylipins as potential markers of cardiometabolic risk in young adults

OBJECTIVE: Omega‐6 and omega‐3 oxylipins are known to play a role in inflammation and cardiometabolic diseases in preclinical models. The associations between plasma levels of omega‐6 and omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid–derived oxylipins and body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults were assessed. METHODS: Body composition, brown adipose tissue, traditional serum cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammatory markers, and a panel of 83 oxylipins were analyzed in 133 young adults (age 22.1[SD 2.2] years, 67% women). RESULTS: Plasma levels of four omega‐6 oxylipins (15‐HeTrE, 5‐HETE, 14,15‐EpETrE, and the oxidative stress–derived 8,12‐iso‐iPF(2α)‐VI) correlated positively with adiposity, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, fatty liver index, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index and lipid parameters. By contrast, the plasma levels of three omega‐3 oxylipins (14,15‐DiHETE, 17,18‐DiHETE, and 19,20‐DiHDPA) were negatively correlated with adiposity, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, fatty liver index, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index, and lipid parameters. The panel of seven oxylipins predicted adiposity better than traditional inflammatory markers such as interferon gamma or tumor necrosis factor‐alpha. Pathway analyses revealed that individuals with obesity had higher plasma levels of omega‐6 and lower plasma levels of omega‐3 oxylipins than normal‐weight individuals. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of seven omega‐6 and omega‐3 oxylipins may have utility as early markers of cardiometabolic risk in young adults.