title: Serum free fatty acids level in senile cataract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the levels of free fatty acids between senile cataract patients and normal controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty consecutive patients with newly diagnosed senile cataract and 50 age- and gender-matched controls were evaluated. Subjects/patients were randomized according to selection criteria. The levels of free fatty acids (FFAs) in serum were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sixteen fatty acids from 14:0 to 24:1 were identified. The values were compared between cataract and control groups by parametric independent sample test and Mann-Whitney U tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease was observed in arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6, ARA), cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3, DHA), tetracosanoic acid (C24: 0), cis-7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5n-6, DPA), total n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), total n-6 LC-PUFAs, total fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and nonessential fatty acid levels in patients with senile cataract in comparison with healthy persons (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of FFA including DPA, tetracosanoic acid, ARA, and DHA were significantly lower in the senile cataract group compared to that in the normal controls. FFA may be helpful in preventing senile cataract.
authors: a First Affiliated Hospital of the Harbin Medical University , Harbin , CHINA.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Chang
authors: Shengzhong
authors: S
authors: Rong
authors: Yannan
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Sha
authors: Meihua
authors: M
authors: Liang
authors: Xuefei
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Miaojing
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Hongzhi
authors: H
authors: Pan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C026219:docosapentaenoic acid; C010210:lignoceric acid
keywords: arachidonic acid; docosahexaenoic acid; docosapentaenoic acid; free fatty acids; senile cataract; tetracosanoic acid