[Reduction in n-3 PUFA levels and EPA/AA ratio in serum after desert travels in China].
OBJECTIVE
The effects of 3 months of desert travel in China on serum fatty acids and tocopherol were studied.


METHODS
In project staff members (6 males, 3 females, aged 19-27 years), serum levels of fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol were analyzed before and after travel by gas liquid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively.


RESULTS
Comparison of the levels before and after the trip showed no differences in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein or alpha-tocopherol. There were no changes in the levels of total fatty acids, while the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids increased (p < 0.05). Levels of n-3 PUFA lowered from 166 micrograms/ml to 103 micrograms/ml, and those of n-6 PUFA had increased from 988 micrograms/ml to 1140 micrograms/ml after the trip (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). No change was observed in the serum levels of alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), but lowering of the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) from 41.4 micrograms/ml to 16.3 micrograms/ml and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) from 107.8 micrograms/ml to 71.7 micrograms/ml was found after the trip (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Serum levels of linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n-6) increased from 832 micrograms/ml to 598 micrograms/ml (p < 0.001), and arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) tended to increase. The ratios of n-3/n-6 PUFA and EPA/AA decreased from 0.171 to 0.091 and from 0.258 to 0.096 after the trip, respectively (p < 0.01 for both).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicated that 3 months of desert travel increased the serum levels of n-6 PUFA and LA and reduced the serum levels of n-3 PUFA and EPA and the ratios of n-3/n-6 PUFA and EPA/AA, possibly due to a relative essential fatty acid deficiency.
Hirai
Kazuko
K
Department of Health and Nutrition, Guraduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Sugimoto 3-3-138, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan.
Asano
Yasuyo
Y
Kakesu
Minako
M
Higuchi
Hisa
H
Nakanishi
Mamoru
M
Maeda
Masako
M
Sonoda
Masako
M
D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China; D003889:Desert Climate; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D005101:Expeditions; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid