skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Persistent organic pollutant levels in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese individuals—Depot differences and dysmetabolism implications

Abstract

Background: The role of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with endocrine disrupting activity in the aetiology of obesity and other metabolic dysfunctions has been recently highlighted. Adipose tissue (AT) is a common site of POPs accumulation where they can induce adverse effects on human health. Objectives: To evaluate the presence of POPs in human visceral (vAT) and subcutaneous (scAT) adipose tissue in a sample of Portuguese obese patients that underwent bariatric surgery, and assess their putative association with metabolic disruption preoperatively, as well as with subsequent body mass index (BMI) reduction. Methods: AT samples (n=189) from obese patients (BMI ≥35) were collected and the levels of 13 POPs were determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected at the time of surgery. BMI variation was evaluated after 12 months and adipocyte size was measured in AT samples. Results: Our data confirm that POPs are pervasive in this obese population (96.3% of detection on both tissues), their abundance increasing with age (R{sub S}=0.310, p<0.01) and duration of obesity (R{sub S}=0.170, p<0.05). We observed a difference in AT depot POPs storage capability, with higher levels of ΣPOPs in vAT (213.9±204.2 compared to 155.1±147.4 ng/g of fat, p<0.001),more » extremely relevant when evaluating their metabolic impact. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between POP levels and the presence of metabolic syndrome components, namely dysglycaemia and hypertension, and more importantly with cardiovascular risk (R{sub S}=0.277, p<0.01), with relevance for vAT (R{sub S}=0.315, p<0.01). Finally, we observed an interesting relation of higher POP levels with lower weight loss in older patients. Conclusion: Our sample of obese subjects allowed us to highlight the importance of POPs stored in AT on the development of metabolic dysfunction in a context of obesity, shifting the focus to their metabolic effects and not only for their recognition as environmental obesogens. - Highlights: • POPs are pervasive in this sample of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. • Distinct adipose tissues have dissimilar POPs storage capability. • Despite the presence of obesity, POPs are important for metabolic dysregulation.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]; ;  [1];  [1];
  1. Department of Biochemistry (U38-FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Centro de Investigação Médica, P-4200-450 Porto (Portugal)
  2. General Surgery Department, S. João Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, P-4200-450 Porto (Portugal)
  3. Chemistry Investigation Centre (CIQ), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, P-4169-007 Porto (Portugal)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22447535
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Research
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 133; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0013-9351
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ADIPOSE TISSUE; CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; DETECTION; DIABETES MELLITUS; ELECTRON CAPTURE; GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY; HAZARDS; HUMAN POPULATIONS; HYPERTENSION; MASS; PATIENTS; PLANT TISSUES; POLLUTANTS; PUBLIC HEALTH; REDUCTION; STORAGE; SURGERY

Citation Formats

Pestana, Diogo, CINTESIS—Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems, P-4200-450 Porto, Faria, Gil, Sá, Carla, Fernandes, Virgínia C., Requimte—Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, P-4200-072 Porto, Teixeira, Diana, Norberto, Sónia, Faria, Ana, Chemistry Investigation Centre, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, P-4200-465 Porto, and others, and. Persistent organic pollutant levels in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese individuals—Depot differences and dysmetabolism implications. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.05.026.
Pestana, Diogo, CINTESIS—Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems, P-4200-450 Porto, Faria, Gil, Sá, Carla, Fernandes, Virgínia C., Requimte—Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, P-4200-072 Porto, Teixeira, Diana, Norberto, Sónia, Faria, Ana, Chemistry Investigation Centre, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, P-4200-465 Porto, & others, and. Persistent organic pollutant levels in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese individuals—Depot differences and dysmetabolism implications. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.05.026
Pestana, Diogo, CINTESIS—Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems, P-4200-450 Porto, Faria, Gil, Sá, Carla, Fernandes, Virgínia C., Requimte—Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, P-4200-072 Porto, Teixeira, Diana, Norberto, Sónia, Faria, Ana, Chemistry Investigation Centre, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, P-4200-465 Porto, and others, and. 2014. "Persistent organic pollutant levels in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese individuals—Depot differences and dysmetabolism implications". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.05.026.
@article{osti_22447535,
title = {Persistent organic pollutant levels in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese individuals—Depot differences and dysmetabolism implications},
author = {Pestana, Diogo and CINTESIS—Center for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems, P-4200-450 Porto and Faria, Gil and Sá, Carla and Fernandes, Virgínia C. and Requimte—Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, P-4200-072 Porto and Teixeira, Diana and Norberto, Sónia and Faria, Ana and Chemistry Investigation Centre and Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, P-4200-465 Porto and others, and},
abstractNote = {Background: The role of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with endocrine disrupting activity in the aetiology of obesity and other metabolic dysfunctions has been recently highlighted. Adipose tissue (AT) is a common site of POPs accumulation where they can induce adverse effects on human health. Objectives: To evaluate the presence of POPs in human visceral (vAT) and subcutaneous (scAT) adipose tissue in a sample of Portuguese obese patients that underwent bariatric surgery, and assess their putative association with metabolic disruption preoperatively, as well as with subsequent body mass index (BMI) reduction. Methods: AT samples (n=189) from obese patients (BMI ≥35) were collected and the levels of 13 POPs were determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected at the time of surgery. BMI variation was evaluated after 12 months and adipocyte size was measured in AT samples. Results: Our data confirm that POPs are pervasive in this obese population (96.3% of detection on both tissues), their abundance increasing with age (R{sub S}=0.310, p<0.01) and duration of obesity (R{sub S}=0.170, p<0.05). We observed a difference in AT depot POPs storage capability, with higher levels of ΣPOPs in vAT (213.9±204.2 compared to 155.1±147.4 ng/g of fat, p<0.001), extremely relevant when evaluating their metabolic impact. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between POP levels and the presence of metabolic syndrome components, namely dysglycaemia and hypertension, and more importantly with cardiovascular risk (R{sub S}=0.277, p<0.01), with relevance for vAT (R{sub S}=0.315, p<0.01). Finally, we observed an interesting relation of higher POP levels with lower weight loss in older patients. Conclusion: Our sample of obese subjects allowed us to highlight the importance of POPs stored in AT on the development of metabolic dysfunction in a context of obesity, shifting the focus to their metabolic effects and not only for their recognition as environmental obesogens. - Highlights: • POPs are pervasive in this sample of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. • Distinct adipose tissues have dissimilar POPs storage capability. • Despite the presence of obesity, POPs are important for metabolic dysregulation.},
doi = {10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.05.026},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22447535}, journal = {Environmental Research},
issn = {0013-9351},
number = ,
volume = 133,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}