Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in <i>PEMT</i> and <i>MTHFR</i> Genes are Associated with Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acid Levels in the Red Blood Cells of Children with Obesity

• Main Authors: Vlad Serafim, Adela Chirita-Emandi, Nicoleta Andreescu, Diana-Andreea Tiugan, Paul Tutac, Corina Paul, Iulian Velea, Alexandra Mihailescu, Costela Lăcrimioara Șerban, Cristian G. Zimbru, Maria Puiu, Mihai Dinu Niculescu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: polyunsaturated fatty acids; <i>pemt</i>; <i>mthfr</i>; children; obesity; red blood cells
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/11/2600

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play important roles in health and disease. PUFA levels are influenced by nutrition and genetic factors. The relationship between PUFA composition in red blood cells (RBCs) and genetic variations involved in PUFA metabolism has not been investigated in children with obesity. This study evaluated the association between several genetic variations and PUFA levels in RBCs in children with obesity. One hundred ninety-six children with obesity (101 females, 95 males) were evaluated using anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, plasma and RBC PUFA quantification, blood biochemistry, and 55 single nucleotide polymorphisms within 14 genes. phosphatidylethanolamine <i>N</i>-methyltransferase (<i>PEMT</i>) rs1109859 and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (<i>MTHFR</i>) rs4846052 genotypes were associated with PUFA levels in RBCs. PUFA intake did not influence the RBC eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels. Higher RBC DHA and EPA levels were observed for <i>PEMT</i> rs1109859 GG and GA genotypes versus the AA genotype. Higher levels of RBC DHA, EPA, arachidonic acid (ARA), and linoleic acid (LA) and were observed for <i>MTHFR</i> rs4846052 TT genotype versus TC and CC genotypes. Genetic variations in <i>PEMT</i> rs1109859 and <i>MTHFR</i> rs4846052 were associated with different PUFA levels in RBC membranes and are estimators for PUFA species in RBCs. Further research is needed to establish whether these genotype-specific alterations are specific to overweight children.