title: Effect of a low fat diet on essential fatty acid metabolism in healthy human subjects.
abstract: The fatty acid pattern in phospholipids of serum and platelets, and conversion of labelled 18:3(n-3) and 20:3(n-6) in cultured lymphocytes was studied in healthy subjects consuming a low fat diet for four weeks. In serum and platelets the level of polyunsaturated C20 and C22 fatty acids was maintained stable, while the content of 18:2(n-6) was significantly decreased. The delta 6-desaturase activity in lymphocytes was increased after the low fat diet, while the rate of delta 5-desaturation was unchanged. It is concluded that the rate of delta 6-desaturation and perhaps also chain-elongation is regulated by the content and composition of dietary lipids in order to maintain the fatty acid pattern of phospholipids stable.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hagve
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christophersen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Høie
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids