Comparison of Fatty Acid Profile between Epicardial and Subcutaneous Adipose in Patients Undergoing Coronary Bypass Graft Surgery

Recent findings suggest that epicardial adipose tissue plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the fatty acid profile of epicardial and subcutaneous adipose in patients undergoing coronary bypass graft surgery, and to assess the association between these profiles and cardiovascular risk factors. Blood samples (one day before surgery), and epicardial and subcutaneous adipose tissue (during coronary artery bypass grafting) were collected from 32 non-diabetic male patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured by standard enzymatic methods and fatty acid composition of adipose tissue was determined by gas chromatography (GC). The saturated fatty acids were higher in epicardial adipose tissue (P=0.007) and polyunsaturated fatty acids were lower than subcutaneous adipose tissue (P=0.03). The level of HDL-C was inversely correlated with ω6 fatty acid content of epicardial adipose tissue (r=-0.502). The fatty acid profiles of epicardial and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and probably their associations with cardiovascular risk factors are different.