title: n-3 fatty acids in old age.
abstract: Plasma phospholipid fatty acid concentrations have been measured in 735 individuals 12-89 years old. The absolute concentrations of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, dihomo-gammalinolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids increased from the third to the fifth decade of life, thereafter remaining fairly constant into the ninth decade. Alpha-linolenic acid showed no change. When expressed as g 100 g-1 fatty acids, palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acid decreased from the third to the fifth decade of life, dihomo-gammalinolenic and arachidonic acid remained unchanged, while the relative concentrations of long-chain n-3 fatty acids increased in a similar manner as when expressed in absolute concentrations. The results indicate that old age in itself has only a minor impact on the availability of n-3 fatty acids in the elderly. Factors such as living area and eating habits probably have a much more profound effect on their availability, also in old age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Regional Hospital, University of Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bjerve
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Fougner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Midthjell
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bønaa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated