Serum
fatty acids (FAs) have wide effects on metabolism: Serum saturated
fatty acids (SFAs) increase triglyceride (TG) levels in plasma,
whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce them.
Traditionally, Eskimos have a high consumption of omega-3 fatty acids
(ω3 FAs); but the Westernization of their food habits has
increased their dietary SFAs, partly reflected in their serum
concentrations. We studied the joint effect of serum SFAs and PUFAs
on circulating levels of TGs in the presence of metabolic syndrome
components. We included 212 men and 240 women (age, 47.9 ± 15.7
years; body mass index [BMI], 26.9 ± 5.3) from 4 villages located in
Alaska for a cross-sectional study. Generalized linear models were
used to build surface responses of TG as functions of SFAs and PUFAs
measured in blood samples adjusting by sex, BMI, and village. The
effects of individual FAs were assessed by multiple linear regression
analysis, and partial correlations (r) were calculated. The
most important predictors for TG levels were glucose tolerance (r
= 0.116, P = .018) and BMI (r = 0.42, P <
.001). Triglyceride concentration showed negative associations with
20:3ω6 (r = −0.16, P = .001), 20:4ω6
(r = −0.14, P = .005), 20:5ω3 (r =
−0.17, P < .001), and 22:5ω3 (r = −0.26,
P < .001), and positive associations with palmitic acid (r
= 0.16, P < .001) and 18:3ω3 (r = 0.15, P
< .001). The surface response analysis suggested that the effect
of palmitic acid on TG is blunted in different degrees according to
the PUFA chemical structure. The long-chain ω3, even in the
presence of high levels of saturated fat, was associated with lower
TG levels. Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5ω3) had the strongest
effect against palmitic acid on TG. The total FA showed moderate
association with levels of TG, whereas SFA was positively associated
and large-chain PUFA was negatively associated. The Westernized
dietary habits among Eskimos are likely to change their metabolic
profile and increase comorbidities related to metabolic disease.