Weir NL, Nomura SO, Steffen BT, et al. - This investigation was carried out in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) to ascertain if omega-6 PUFAs, and measured desaturase enzyme activity, were correlated with fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and incident T2D, and whether associations vary by race/ethnicity. Participants in the study were 6,282 individuals. Using linear regression, connections between baseline plasma phospholipid fatty acids (LA, Linoleic Acid; GLA, γ-linoleic acid; DGLA, Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid; AA, arachidonic acid; D5D, delta-5 desaturase; D6D, delta-6 desaturase), fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR [(fasting insulin – fasting glucose)/22.5] have been assessed. Results confirm previous reports of association of omega-6 PUFAs with hyperinsulinemia. Outcomes indicate that omega-6 PUFAs are more likely to be markers of hyperinsulinemia than a protective/risk factor for T2D, and show racial/ethnic differences in associations, but further research is required to confirm findings. LA was inversely and DGLA and AA were positively correlated with T2D in the overall population after accounting for HOMA-IR at baseline, but relationships were attenuated or no longer present when stratified by race/ethnicity.