title: Desaturation and interconversion of dietary stearic and palmitic acids in human plasma and lipoproteins.
abstract: Dietary saturated fatty acids are implicated as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. The conversion of the major dietary saturated fatty acids stearic acid (18:0) and palmitic acid (16:0) to monounsaturated fatty acids in whole plasma and lipoprotein fractions is reported for seven healthy adult humans over 6 d using [U-13C]stearic acid (18:0*) and [U-13C]palmitic acid (16:0*) and high-precision mass spectrometry. A tracer dose (28-32 mg) of 18:0* or 16:0* was loaded into an emulsion and orally administered before breakfast. Serial blood samples were collected on day 1 and fasting blood was drawn daily until day 7. Overall conversion of 18:0 to 18:1 was approximately 14%, whereas that of 18:0 to 16:0 was approximately 2% in plasma up to 144 h. Conversion of 16:0 to 16:1 was < 2%, whereas conversion of 16:0 to 18:0 was approximately 6%. No other fatty acid metabolites were detected for 18:0* or 16:0*. The conversion products were observed mainly in chylomicrons and very-low-density lipoproteins, indicating that the intestine and liver have comparable roles in desaturating 18:0 and 16:0. Overall, these data indicate that dietary 18:0 desaturation is severalfold greater than 16:0 desaturation. The low level (14%) of 18:0 desaturation in omnivorous adults may have little influence on blood lipid profiles relevant to atherosclerosis risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-6301, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kayani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciszek
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brenna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002914:Chylomicrons / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002914:Chylomicrons; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008074:Lipoproteins; D013229:Stearic Acids; D019308:Palmitic Acid; C031183:stearic acid