Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with lipid metabolism disorder, particularly elevated plasma levels of non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFFA) and an increased cardiovascular disease risk, such as essential hypertension (H). The plasma unbalance of saturated fatty acid (SFA)/polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio is a likely contributor, but the mechanisms involved are not clearly elucidated. The aim of this study is to explore the association between plasma SFA/PUFA ratio and the clusters of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), including the atherogenic biomarkers, inflammatory status, feeding patterns, and physical activity in people with T2DM with or without essential hypertension. The study was conducted on 784 adult male and female participants, aged between 30 and 50 years, and divided into 3 groups: 100 T2DM without hypertension (D); 368 T2DM with hypertension (DM); and 316 hypertensive participants without T2DM (H). All Participants were phenotyped regarding CMS clusters according to the NCEP/ATPIII criteria. Insulin resistance was assessed by Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA model). Metabolic, atherogenic, and inflammatory parameters were analyzed by biochemical methods; NEFFA by microfluorimetry; SFA, PUFA-n6 and PUFA-n3 by gas phase chromatography. Dietary lipids and physical activity were analyzed through the use of validated questionnaires. The clusters of CMS were found in all groups. Dyslipidemia was correlated with accretion NEFFA levels in all groups, but more accentuated in the DH group (r = +0.77; p < 0.001). Similarly, plasma PUFA/SFA ratio and PUFA-3 level was lower, concomitantly with a higher plasma ApoB100/ApoA1 (p < 0.001), lipoprotein (a), homocysteine (p < 0.001), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, IL1-β) in the DH group. Likewise, the depletion of PUFA-n3/PUFA-n6 ratio is associated with the decrease of omega 3-DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and omega 3-EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) (p < 0.001). It appears that the PUFAs-n3 ratio modulates cardiometabolic risk, inflammatory state and atherogenic biomarkers. The plasma unbalanced ratio of SFA/PUFA reflects dietary fatty acids intake. The contribution of dietary lipids is undisputed. Nutritional recommendations are required to determine the fatty acids ratio (saturated and unsaturated) provided in the diet.
Keywords: atherogenic biomarkers; cardiometabolic risk; dietary lipids; essential hypertension; insulin resistance; physical activity; polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio; pro-inflammatory cytokines; type 2 diabetes mellitus.