Oxidative state and lipid composition of plasma from overweight and moderately obese women

Objective: To determine the oxidative balance and plasma fatty acid composition of overweight and obese women. Design: Comparative, descriptive study on 60 overweight or obese (> 25 BMI> 33), normotensive, non-diabetic women and 60 age-matched lean healthy women (BMI< 25). Measurements: Plasma lipid, hydroperoxide, and antioxidants levels, fatty acid composition and lipoproteins susceptibility to peroxidation. Results: Compared to the lean control group, the patient group had higher lipoprotein susceptibility to peroxidation and higher peroxide levels. On the contrary, the polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular the omega-3 species, and the antioxidants were lower in the patient group. Conclusions: The present study shows that overweight and obese people have oxidative balance impairment. The higher susceptibility to peroxidation of lipoproteins is the probable molecular mechanism that promotes a reduction in high unsaturated (and in particular omega-3) fatty acids, as well as antioxidants in the plasma of the overweight and obese subjects.