title: (n-6)-Fatty acids in plasma lipids of children with atopic bronchial asthma.
abstract: It has been suggested that atopy is associated with an impairment in the delta 6-desaturation of (n-6)-polyunsaturated fatty acids and subsequently low levels of eicosanoid precursors. To evaluate this hypothesis we analyzed the fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids and plasma cholesterol esters in a well-defined group of children with atopic bronchial asthma (n = 17) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 10). Atopic children showed significantly higher levels of linoleic acid and lower proportions of arachidonic acid in plasma lipids. No differences were observed with respect to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DHLA). It is concluded that there is no biochemical evidence for a delta 6-desaturation defect in atopic children and therefore no justification for the supplementation of GLA and DHLA; e.g., by the use of evening primrose oil preparations.
authors.affiliation: Paul György-Laboratory for Nutrition Research, University Children's Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leichsenring
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kochsiek
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000097:blood*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid