Concentrations of very long-chain fatty acid in whole blood are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in children.

Fatty acid metabolism has a close relationship with metabolic syndrome. Saturated very long-chain fatty acid (hexacosanoic acid; C26:0) was recently reported to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors in adults. Eighty-eight children (47 male, 41 female; average age, 10.9 y) participated in this study. Concentrations of C26:0 in whole blood were measured. Compared with reported concentrations in the whole blood of adults, children had lower C26:0 concentrations, which had a close relationship with abdominal obesity, increased concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high blood pressure. C26:0 concentrations increased with increasing number of risk factors. Elevation of C26:0 concentrations may be one of the metabolic features of children with cardiovascular risk factors.