Is metabolic syndrome X a disorder of the brain with the initiation of low-grade systemic inflammatory events during the perinatal period?

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 2007-11, Vol.18 (11), p.701-713
• Main Author: Das, Undurti N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: abdominal fat; Animals; Appetite Regulation - physiology; Arachidonic acid; Arachidonic Acid - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - growth & development; Brain - physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids - pharmacology; Dopamine; Dopamine - physiology; Eicosapentaenoic acid; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - physiology; Fatty Acids, Essential - deficiency; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - pharmacology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; fetal development; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - physiology; high energy diet; Humans; Hypothalamus, Middle - physiopathology; Infant, Newborn; inflammation; Inflammation - physiopathology; Insulin - physiology; insulin resistance; insulin secretion; Leptin; Leptin - physiology; lipolysis; long chain fatty acids; Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; maternal nutrition; metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; Metabolic syndrome X; N-Methylaspartate - physiology; Neurons - physiology; Neuropeptide Y; neurotransmitters; nitric oxide; prenatal care; Qa-SNARE Proteins - physiology; Receptor, Insulin - physiology; Receptors, Retinoic Acid - physiology; saturated fatty acids; Serotonin; Serotonin - physiology; Synapses - physiology; transfection; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0955-2863; 1873-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2007.01.002

An imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules occurs in metabolic syndrome X. High-energy diet, saturated fats and trans-fats during perinatal period could suppress Δ 6 and Δ 5 desaturases both in the maternal and fetal tissues, resulting in a decrease in the concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs): arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that have a negative feedback control on inflammation. EPA, DHA and AA augment endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, potentiate insulin action both in the peripheral tissues and brain and alter leptin production. LCPUFAs are essential for brain growth and development and synaptogenesis and modulate the action of several neurotransmitters and hypothalamic peptides. This suggests that metabolic syndrome X could be a disorder of the brain due to suboptimal LCPUFAs during perinatal period that triggers low-grade systemic inflammation, implying that perinatal strategies are needed to prevent its development.