title: Phase angle correlates with n-3 fatty acids and cholesterol in red cells of Nigerian children with sickle cell disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the cholesterol content and fatty acid composition of red cell membrane phospholipids (PL) of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to correlate these levels with whole body phase angle that is related to the integrity and function of cell membranes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 69 children with SCD and 72 healthy age- and gender-matched controls in Nigeria for the determination of the cholesterol content and proportions of fatty acids in red cell PL. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to obtain resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) from which phase angle was calculated as arctan Xc/R. Cholesterol (normalized to lipid phosphorus) and the proportions of individual fatty acids were correlated with phase angle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportions of palmitic (p < 0.001), stearic acid (p = 0.003) and cholesterol (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the red cells of children with SCD, whereas the proportions of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were reduced (p = 0.03 and < 0.001, respectively) compared to controls. The phase angle was inversely correlated with the proportions of palmitic acid (p = 0.03) and oleic acid (p < 0.001) and cholesterol (p = 0.003). Three n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids-eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid- were positively correlated with phase angle (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fatty acid composition and cholesterol content of tissue membranes in SCD correlate with the phase shift measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Phase angle measurements may provide a non-invasive method for monitoring interventions aimed at altering the lipid composition of membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA. dvanderjagt@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Dorothy J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: VanderJagt
authors.forename: Miguel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.forename: Fidelia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bode-Thomas
authors.forename: Yung-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lu-Te
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Glew