Circulating PUFAs and their associations with abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia among vegetarians and non-vegetarians: insights for personalised nutrition from a cross-sectional study
This study explores the associations between circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia among vegetarians and non-vegetarians with distinct dietary PUFA intakes, as limited evidence exists on how circulating PUFA concentrations differ between these dietary...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/122823/1/122823.pdf http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/122823/ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0337509 |
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| Summary: | This study explores the associations between circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia among vegetarians and non-vegetarians with distinct dietary PUFA intakes, as limited evidence exists on how circulating PUFA concentrations differ between these dietary groups and relate to metabolic risks. In this cross-sectional study, serum PUFA profiles and their associations with abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia were examined. A total of 127 vegetarians and 132 non-vegetarians from Malaysia participated in the present study. Vegetarians had higher circulating concentrations of linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and the n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio. They had lower concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) than non-vegetarians. Among vegetarians, higher circulating arachidonic acid (ARA) concentrations were associated with an increased risk of hyperglycaemia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.11). In non-vegetarians, higher circulating ARA was associated with a higher risk of abdominal obesity (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00–1.09), while lower circulating DHA was associated with a reduced odds of abdominal obesity (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90–0.99). Conversely, a high circulating n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio was associated with a lower risk of hyperglycaemia (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93 - 1.00) among non-vegetarians. These findings highlight distinct metabolic responses to PUFA profiles between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, suggesting the need for tailored dietary strategies to address abdominal obesity and hyperglycaemia for both groups. |
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