Erythrocyte membrane phospholipid composition as a biomarker of dietary fat.
OBJECTIVE
In a cross-sectional study, we investigated the relationship between erythrocyte membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition and dietary fat; we also investigated roles of menopausal status, age, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in interindividual variation of the biomarker.


METHODS
Study participants were 204 women, aged 39-65 years, drawn from the ORDET cohort and selected as controls in a study of breast cancer. Membrane composition was assessed using capillary gas chromatography. Dietary fat composition was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire.


RESULTS
In pre- and postmenopausal women, erythrocyte membrane phospholipid levels of linoleic acid, oleic acid, and mono-unsaturated fatty acids were significantly associated with corresponding dietary measures (partial correlation coefficients: 0.23 and 0.39; 0.45 and 0.47; 0.40 and 0.48; respectively, in pre- and postmenopausal women). Among postmenopausal women, membrane poly-unsaturated fatty acids were correlated with the corresponding dietary measure (r=0.39, p<0.001). Membrane eicosapentanoic and docosahexanoic acid levels were significantly correlated with intake of fish/shell fish : r=0.21 and r=0.43 (premenopausal), and r=0.41 and r=0.44 (postmenopausal). Age, BMI and WHR had independent effects on membrane lipid composition. Age was associated with delta-6 desaturase activity in postmenopausal women (r=0.25, p<0.05). BMI was negatively associated with delta-9 desaturase activity in both pre- and postmenopausal women (r=-0.29, p=0.01 and r=-0.22, p<0.01, respectively). WHR was negatively associated with delta-5 desaturase activity in pre-menopausal women (r=-024, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Erythrocyte membrane levels of some specific fatty acids can be used as biomarkers of these fatty acids as proportions of dietary fat.
Fuhrman
Barbara J
BJ
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
Barba
Maddalena
M
Krogh
Vittorio
V
Micheli
Andrea
A
Pala
Valeria
V
Lauria
Rossella
R
Chajes
Veronique
V
Riboli
Elio
E
Sieri
Sabina
S
Berrino
Franco
F
Muti
Paola
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D015415:Biomarkers; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases