Characterization of the Metabolic Profile of a Hispanic at-risk Pediatric Population in Northeast Tennessee

Metabolic syndrome is a grouping of criteria that includes hypertension, glucose intolerance, truncal obesity and/or a high body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance, high very-low-density lipoproteins, high triglycerides, and low high-density lipoproteins. Metabolic syndrome is a problem in Hispanic children due to increasing obesity rates and a predisposition for insulin resistance in the Hispanic population. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has been shown to decrease triglycerides, body mass, insulin resistance, and hypertension while increasing HDL. Inflammatory markers are also reduced after omega-3 supplementation. More research is needed on the supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in children before guidelines are written. Supplementation and overall intake levels of EPA and DHA can be determined through food frequency questionnaires. Research at this time indicates that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids could be beneficial for Hispanic children who already partially met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, and is probably not harmful