(n-6)-Fatty acids in plasma lipids of children with atopic bronchial asthma.

It has been suggested that atopy is associated with an impairment in the delta 6-desaturation of (n-6)-polyunsaturated fatty acids and subsequently low levels of eicosanoid precursors. To evaluate this hypothesis we analyzed the fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids and plasma cholesterol esters in a well-defined group of children with atopic bronchial asthma (n = 17) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 10). Atopic children showed significantly higher levels of linoleic acid and lower proportions of arachidonic acid in plasma lipids. No differences were observed with respect to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DHLA). It is concluded that there is no biochemical evidence for a delta 6-desaturation defect in atopic children and therefore no justification for the supplementation of GLA and DHLA; e.g., by the use of evening primrose oil preparations.