title: Red blood cell fatty acid composition in a sample of Italian middle-aged men on free diet.
abstract: Within the framework of a project of primary prevention of coronary heart disease the erythrocyte fatty acid composition was determined in 140 Italian middle-aged men on free diet. The linoleic/oleic ratio ranged from 0.27 to 0.96 pointing out remarkable differences in dietary fat intake. A negative correlation was observed between erythrocyte linoleic/oleic ratio and plasma cholesterol levels. This gives indirect support to the validity of this ratio as an index of adherence to cholesterol-lowering diets in long-term studies.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol