The influence of linoleic acid intake on the excretion of urinary prostaglandin metabolites.

The influence of linoleic acid intake on human prostaglandin formation was investigated by gas chromatographic determination of dimethyl tetranorprostanedioate, a derivative of the major urinary end products of prostaglandin metabolism. Six healthy female volunteers were put on liquid formula diets. Each person had a linoleic acid supply of 0, 10, and 50 g per day for periods of two weeks. At the end of these periods the corresponding average amounts of tetranorprostanedioic acid in urine were 92, 175, and 326 microgram per day.