Influence of Pyridoxine and Dietary Fat on the Distribution of Serum Fatty Acids in Dogs

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Abstract
Studies were performed concerning the relative distribution of fatty acids in the blood serum of 6 adult Beagle dogs, two German short-hair puppies and 6 mongrel puppies that received diets deficient in linoleic acid or vitamin B6 or both. The presence or absence of linoleic acid caused marked changes in the fatty acid spectrum in the serum, whereas the presence or absence of pyridoxine in the diet did not influence the relative content of arachidonic acid in the blood serum. With two rapidly growing young animals (the German short-hair puppies) however, it was noted that arachidonic acid increased somewhat more rapidly in the serum of the animal receiving pyridoxine in the diet than in the littermate fed a diet without pyridoxine, although the magnitude of change was about the same. Apparently the conversion of linoleic acid to arachidonic acid is possible without the presence of vitamin B6 in the diet.