Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders & Body Weight Regulation

A role for mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in the peripheral signaling cascade of leptin, adiponectin and insulin has recently been proposed from animal studies but has not been investigated in humans. Children with trifunctional protein (TFP, including deficiency of long-chain hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) and very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency, inherited disorders of long-chain fatty acid ß-oxidation, lack an ability to oxidize fatty acids for energy. They have increased levels of body fat and circulating leptin and a high incidence of obesity. Current therapy for children with these disorders is based on frequent meals and consuming a low fat, very high carbohydrate diet. Despite treatment, exercise induced rhabdomyolysis is a common complication of TFP and VLCAD deficiency that frequently leads to exercise avoidance. The effects of these genetic defects on body composition and weight regulation have not been investigated. The contribution of fatty-acid oxidation during moderate intensity exercise in children has also not been reported. Two groups of subjects were recruited: one group of subjects had a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder (n=13). The other group is a group of controls (n=16). We studied peripheral signals of body weight regulation, glucose tolerance, body composition, and exercise metabolism in subjects with a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder compared to normal controls.