Fatty Acid Composition of Plasma, Erythrocytes and Adipose: Their Correlations and Effects of Age and Sex

Abstract

The composition of fatty acids in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and the correlation of fatty acid values of plasma and erythrocytes had not been reported in Japan. The aim of the present study was to investigate the fatty acid composition and correlation of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids (PL) and adipose triacylglycerols (TG) in 75 adult patients admitted for non-malignant diseases. We also examined the relationship of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) with patients' characteristics. The total n-3 PUFA were 11.2, 11.8 and 1.9%, and the ratios of n-6/n-3 were 2.41, 1.87 and 8.20 in plasma and erythrocyte PL and adipose TG, respectively. There were the highest correlations for total n-3 PUFA and the n-6/n-3 ratio between plasma and erythrocyte PL and adipose TG. There was a positive correlation between n-3 PUFAs and age, but a negative correlation was found between n-6 PUFAs and age. There was no significant difference in the values of PUFAs in plasma and erythrocyte PL and adipose TG between men and women. The patients with cholesterol cholecystolithiasis showed a significantly lower proportion of eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma and erythrocyte PL than those of the other patients. Our findings suggest that PUFA in plasma and erythrocyte PL may be good biomarkers and more acceptable for studying participants than adipose TG.

Serum Levels of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and the Risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

“…That age and sex showed a significant impact on PUFA levels will be important to assess further. The positive correlations found between each of the three PUFAs and age are consistent with the findings of previous reports [13,14]. The association between PUFAs and PTSD should now be explored in a well-designed observational study; if the observed association is judged to be causal, intervention trials will then be needed to elucidate causality.…”

Omega-3 index levels and associated factors in a middle-aged French population: the MONA LISA-NUT Study

“…This finding has been noted in some previous studies 8,10,13,14,32 but not in others. 9,12 Some researchers consider that this reflects higher consumption of seafood by women than by men; however, this was not the case in the present study.…”

Arachidonic Acid-enriched Triacylglycerol Improves Cognitive Function in Elderly with Low Serum Levels of Arachidonic Acid

“…It is also unclear whether 8.3 is a critical inflection point or not. However, 8.3 is a possible value for elderly Japanese people at least 24 . Further large-scale studies are required to determine whether there is a suitable range of serum ARA levels for P300 components because there was the limitation that the number of participants in this study was small.…”