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Influence of dietary arachidonic acid on metabolism in vivo of 8 cis, 11 cis, 14-eicosatrienoic acid in humans

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Lipids

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of dietary arachidonic acid (20∶4n-6) on Δ5 desaturation and incorporation of deuterium-labeled 8cis, 11cis, 14-eicosatrienoic acid (20∶3n-6) into human plasma lipids. Adult male subjects (n=4) were fed diets containing either 1.7 g/d (H120∶4 diet) or 0.21 g/d (LO20∶4 diet) of arachidonic acid for 50 d and then dosed with a mixture containing ethyl esters of 20∶3n-6[d4] and 18∶1n-9[d2]. A series of blood samples was sequentially drawn over a 72-h period, and methyl esters of plasma total lipid, triacylglycerol, phospholipids, and cholesteryl ester were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Based on the concentration of 20∶3n-6[d4] in total plasma lipid, the estimated conversion of 20∶3n-6[d4] to 20∶4n-6[d4] was 17.7.±0.79% (HI20∶4 diet) and 2.13±1.44% (LO20∶4 diet). The concentrations of 20∶4n-6[d4] in total plasma lipids from subjects fed the HI20∶4 and LO20∶4 diets were 2.10±0.6 and 0.29±0.2 μmole/mL plasma/mmole of 20∶3n-6[d4] fed/kg of body weight. These data indicate that conversion of 20∶3n-6[d4] to 20∶4n-6[d4] was stimulated 7-8-fold by the HI20∶4 diet. Phospholipid acyltransferase was 2.5-fold more selective for 20∶3n-6[d4] than 18∶1n-9[d2], and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase was 2-fold more selective for 18∶1n-9[d2] than 20∶3n-6[d4]. These differences in selectivity were not significantly influenced by diet. Absorption of ethyl 20∶3n-6[d4] was about 33% less than ethyl 18∶1n-9[d2]. The sum of the n-6 retroconversion products from 20∶3n-6[d4] in total plasma lipids was about 2% of the total deuterated fatty acids. Neither absorption nor retroconversion appears to be influenced by diet.

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Abbreviations

CE:

cholesteryl ester

GC-MS:

gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

PL:

phospholipid

TG:

triglyceride

TLC:

thin-layer chromatography

TL:

total lipid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Western Human Nutritional Research Center, USDA, Presidio of San Francisco, 94129, San Francisco, California

    G. J. Nelson

  2. Food Quality and Safety Research, USDA, ARS, NCAUR, 1815 N. University St., 61604, Peoria, IL

    E. A. Emken, R. O. Adlof & S. M. Duval

Authors
  1. E. A. Emken
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  2. R. O. Adlof
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  3. S. M. Duval
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  4. G. J. Nelson
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Emken, E.A., Adlof, R.O., Duval, S.M. et al. Influence of dietary arachidonic acid on metabolism in vivo of 8 cis, 11 cis, 14-eicosatrienoic acid in humans. Lipids 32, 441–448 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-997-0058-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-997-0058-4

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