Fatty acid composition of human heart phospholipids: data from 53 biopsy specimens.

Fatty acid composition of human heart phospholipids was determined in 53 specimens of left ventricular myocardium collected during mitral valve replacement. Ages of the subjects (29 males and 24 females) ranged from 14 to 75 years (mean age = 54). Samples were immediately placed in chloroform-methanol 2/1, v/v to which antioxidant was added. Extracted phospholipids were converted to methyl esters which were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography on glass capillary columns. Morphological examination was also performed on 35 out of 53 samples. Age of the patients as well as the morphological state of the organ had no significant effect on major fatty acids in heart phospholipids. No difference by sex was detected. Trans-octadecenoic isomers were detected in all samples but they remained at a low level (0.4% to 1.2% of the total fatty acids).