Circulating PUFAs and their associations with abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia among vegetarians and non-vegetarians: Insights for personalised nutrition from a cross-sectional study

TL;DR

This study finds that vegetarians and non-vegetarians have different fatty acid levels linked to obesity and high blood sugar, suggesting personalized nutrition approaches.

Contribution

The study reveals distinct associations between PUFA profiles and metabolic risks in vegetarians versus non-vegetarians, supporting personalized dietary strategies.

Findings

Vegetarians had higher LA and ALA but lower EPA, DPA, and DHA compared to non-vegetarians.

Higher ARA was linked to hyperglycaemia in vegetarians and abdominal obesity in non-vegetarians.

A high n-6:n-3 ratio was associated with lower hyperglycaemia risk in non-vegetarians.

Abstract

This study explores the associations between circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia among vegetarians and non-vegetarians with distinct dietary PUFA intakes, as limited evidence exists on how circulating PUFA concentrations differ between these dietary groups and relate to metabolic risks. In this cross-sectional study, serum PUFA profiles and their associations with abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia were examined. A total of 127 vegetarians and 132 non-vegetarians from Malaysia participated in the present study. Vegetarians had higher circulating concentrations of linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and the n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio. They had lower concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than non-vegetarians. Among vegetarians, higher circulating arachidonic acid (ARA) concentrations were associated with an increased risk of hyperglycaemia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.11). In non-vegetarians, higher circulating ARA was associated with a higher risk of abdominal obesity (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00–1.09), while lower circulating DHA was associated with a reduced odds of abdominal obesity (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90–0.99). Conversely, a high circulating n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio was associated with a lower risk of hyperglycaemia (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93 - 1.00) among non-vegetarians. These findings highlight distinct metabolic responses to PUFA profiles between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, suggesting the need for tailored dietary strategies to address abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia for both groups.

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