Plasma Fatty Acids in Normolipemic and Hyperlipemic Subjects during Fasting and after Linoleate Feeding

Abstract
Two normolipemic subjects, one mildly hyperlipemic subject, and two severely hyperlipemic subjects were fed diets of ordinary foods containing either 4 or 18% of calories as linoleic acid. During ingestion of the diet containing 4% of calories from linoleate, the content of palmitic acid was high and the content of oleic and linoleic acids lower in the plasma triglycerides of the hyperlipemic subjects as compared to the normolipemic individuals. The ingestion of a diet containing 18% of calories from linoleate resulted in a fall in the concentration of all lipid classes in both normal and hyperlipemic subjects. An increase was noted in the percent of linoleic acid in all lipid fractions and a decrease was observed in the percent of arachidonic acid in the cholesterol ester and phospholipid fractions in both normal and hyperlipemic persons. The percentage of arachidonic acid was lower in the plasma cholesterol esters and phospholipids of the hyperlipemic individuals while consuming both diets. In both the hyperlipemic and normolipemic individuals there were significant differences between the fasting and non-fasting nonchylomicron triglyceride fatty acid composition, the changes reflecting a shift toward the composition of the fat ingested. There were no significant differences, however, in the fatty acid composition of the cholesterol ester and phospholipid in fasted and nonfasted subjects. These results suggest that data reflecting the fasting fatty acid composition of the plasma cholesterol ester and phospholipid fractions can be obtained from nonfasting blood samples if chylomicrons are removed.