Fatty acid composition of plasma lipoproteins in control subjects and in patients with malabsorption.

The fatty acid composition of cholesterol (cholesteryl) ester, triglyceride, and lecithin has been investigated in whole plasma and individual lipoproteins of healthy control subjects, of patients with malabsorption, and also of patients without malabsorption. The results show a decreased proportion of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid in all three lipid classes in both groups of patients as compared with the healthy controls. This abnormality was more marked in the malabsorbers, especially those with steatorrhoea secondary to intestinal resection. Unequivocal biochemical evidence of essential fatty acid deficiency, as indicated by the appearance of 5, 8, 11 eicosatrienoic acid in plasma lecithin, was observed in two patients, both of whom had undergone major intestinal resections. The results suggest that intestinal resection predisposes to the development of essential fatty acid deficiency.