Influence of FADS polymorphisms on tracking of serum glycerophospholipid fatty acid concentrations and percentage composition in children.

Tracking of fatty acid (FA) contribution to plasma or serum lipids
over time was shown in children and adults. However, the potential
role of FADS gene variants has not been investigated. Serum GP FA
composition of 331 children aged 2 and 6 years, participating in an
ongoing birth cohort study, was analyzed. Correlation coefficients
were estimated to describe FA tracking over 4 years and to assess
the influence of FADS variants on tracking. We found low to
moderate tracking (r = 0.12-0.49) of FA compositions and
concentration between 2 and 6 years. Concentration changes of total
monounsaturated FA and total saturated FA over time correlated
closely (r = 0.79) but percentage values were unrelated
(r = -0.02). Tracking for n-6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid
(LC-PUFA) concentrations was lower in subjects homozygous for the
major allele of FADS variants and higher in carriers of at least
one minor allele, whereas for total n-3 LC-PUFA concentrations and
compositions this was vice versa. For individual n-3 PUFA
inconsistent results were found. Serum GP FA composition shows low
to moderate tracking over 4 years with a higher tracking for
LC-PUFA metabolites than for their precursor FA. Serum PUFA levels
and their tracking seem to be more influenced by lipid and
lipoprotein metabolism than by FA specific pathways.