Essential Fatty Acid Activities of Hydrocarbons and Alcohols Analogous to Linoleate and Linolenate

Abstract
The effect of linoleyl and linolenyl alcohols, octadecadiene and octadecatriene upon EFA-deficient male rats has been tested. Only linoleyl alcohol relieved the symptoms of EFA deficiency. Octadecadiene and octadecatriene, hydrocarbon analogs of linoleic and linolenic acids, acted as severe skin irritants and induced fatty livers in the rats. These compounds also caused changes in the polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern of the heart lipides indicating that they were absorbed and metabolized to some extent. Linoleyl and linolenyl alcohols stimulated growth and induced changes in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of heart tissue similar to those induced by the corresponding acids.