Serum adiponectin and TNFα concentrations are closely associated with epicardial adipose tissue fatty acid profiles in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery

Abstract Background Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) releases both adiponectin and TNFα, and these two adipokines play important roles in heart diseases such as coronary arterial disease. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether fatty acid (FA) profiles in EAT are linked to the serum concentration of these adipokines. The relationships between serum adipokine levels and FA profiles in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery were analyzed. Methods Patients ( n  = 21) undergoing cardiovascular surgery (11 males, 70.4 ± 9.0 years, BMI 26.0 ± 5.1 kg/m 2 ) were included. EAT samples were taken. We measured clinical biochemical data and FA profiles in venous blood and EAT samples using gas chromatography. Serum adiponectin and TNFα concentrations were also measured. Results The adiponectin and TNFα levels were not correlated with any fatty acid concentration in serum lipids. In contrast, there was a positive correlation between the serum adiponectin level and epicardial level of nervonic acid (C24:1ω9, r  = 0.525, P  = 0.025). In multiple regression analysis, adiponectin showed a positive association with the epicardial C24:1ω9 concentration after controlling for age and BMI, or TG, non-HDL-C, and BNP. The serum TNFα concentration was negatively correlated with the epicardial C18:3ω3, C12:0 and C18:0 content. In multiple regression analysis, the serum TNFα concentration showed a positive association with the epicardial C18:3ω3 level (β = − 0.575, P  = 0.015). Conclusions These results suggest that there is a close relationship between epicardial FA profiles and serum levels of adiponectin and TNFα. Dietary therapy to target FA profiles may be helpful to modulate inflammation.