Lipids

The two major phospholipid classes, namely, phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) and phosphatidylcholines (PC), were studied in four different regions of human brain,i.e., in frontal gray matter, frontal white matter, hippocampus and in pons. The fatty acid (FA) compositions of these phospholipids were found to be specific for the different regions. PC contains mostly saturated and 18∶1 FA, while PE is rich in polyunsaturated FA. Aging has no influence on the FA compositions, while in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) PE is modified in all four regions, particularly in frontal gray matter and in hippocampus. The abundance of the major monounsaturated FA of PE, 18∶1, is not significantly altered in Alzheimer’s disease, but there is a substantial increase in the relative amounts of the saturated components 14∶0, 16∶0 and 18∶0. This is paralleled by a decrease in the polyunsaturated FA 20∶4, 22∶4 and 22∶6. It is not clear whether the changes observed are specific for AD. Changes in saturated/polyunsaturated FA ratio are likely to influence cellular function, which in turn may cause certain neural deficiencies. The findings do not support the hypothesis that AD reflects an accelerated aging process.

I have reviewed recent (March 1995–December 1997) papers on human milk lipids including many on fatty acid (FA) composition. The effects of maternal diets on the profiles are apparent. However, more data on the composition of milk lipids are needed. It is noteworthy that so few papers on milk FA composition have reported analyses using high‐resolution gas‐liquid chromatography columns. Two of these were on milk from women in North America. The diets in North America are varied and the number of analyses few. We do not have a reliable data base showing the ranges of biologically important acids. Except for the gangliosides, few new data on the other lipids appeared during this period.

The coloring reaction of the thiobarbituric acid test for hydroperoxides was completely inhibited by the addition of EDTA. Therefore, it was necessary to add a metal salt to the reaction mixture to complete the reaction and also to add an antioxidant to prevent autoxidation when unoxidized unsaturated fatty acids co‐exist. The optimal pH of the reaction was found at 3.6 using glycine‐hydrochloric acid buffer.

The mixture of conjugated diene hydroperoxide isomers obtained from autoxidation of methyl linoleate was separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Four major isomers were obtained from adsorption chromatography and identified as the 9 and 13 positional isomers having thetrans‐trans andcis‐trans configurations. The latter geometrical isomers have thetrans double bond adjacent to the hydroperoxide group. The hydroxy compounds (methyl hydroxylinoleates) obtained from the hydroperoxides by NaBH₄ reduction were similarly separated but with improved resolution. This is the first instance of the complete separation of these compounds and provides a rapid method for their analysis. Unlike adsorption chromatography, reversed‐phase chromatography separates the mixtures only according to the geometrical isomerism of the double bonds and not according to the position of the hydroxy or hydroperoxide function.

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (748–1390 g, n=65) were randomly assigned to receive control or marine oil‐supplemented formula when they achieved intakes >454 kJ (110 kcal)/kg/d of a formula designed for VLBW infants. Study formulas with or without marine oil were provided until 79 wk of postconceptional age (PCA), first in a formula designed for preterm infants followed by a formula designed for term infants. Infants were studied at regular intervals through 92 wk PCA. Weight, length, and head circumference were determined by standardized prodedures and normalized to the National Center for Health Statistics figures for growth of infants born at term of the same age and gender. Mean normalized weight, weight‐to‐length, and head circumference were greatest at 48 wk and decreased thereafter. The decline in normalized weight was greater in infants fed the marine oil‐supplemented formula. Beginning at 40 wk, marine oil‐supplemented infants compared to controls had significantly poorer Z‐scores for weight, length and head circumference. In addition, birth order (negatively) and maternal height (positively) influenced weight and length achievement in infancy as shown previously in infants born at term.

A sensitive, highly reproducible method for tissue tocopherol analysis that combines saponification in the presence of large amounts of ascorbic acid to remove interfering substances, extraction of the nonsaponifiable lipids with hexane, and fluorometric measurement of the tocopherol is presented. The nonsaponifiable lipid phase contained only one fluorochrome in the 290 nm excitation and 330 nm emission range, and it was identified as tocopherol by thin layer and column chromatography. Column chromatography of the hexane extract of a saponified,¹⁴C‐tocopherolspiked microsomal fraction showed that no measurable oxidation to tocopherylquinone has occurred. The fluorometric method for tocopherol analysis was applied to homogenates and subcellular fractions from rat liver, kidney, lung, and heart and red blood cells. The heavy mitochondrial and microsomal fractions had the highest subcellular concentrations of tocopherol.

The molecular basis for the beneficial impact of essential omega‐3 (n−3) FA remains of interest. Recently, we identified novel mediators generated from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that displayed potent bioactions identified first in resolving inflammatory exudates and in tissues enriched with DHA. The trivial names resolvin (resolution phase interaction products) and docosatrienes were introduced for the bioactive compounds from these novel series since they possess potent anti‐inflammatory and immunoregulatory actions. Compounds derived from EPA carrying potent biological actions (i.e., 1–10 nM range) are designated E series and denoted resolvins of the E series (resolvin E1 or RvE1), and those biosynthesized from the precursor DHA are denoted resolvins of the D series (resolvin D1 or RvD1). The number 1 designates the bioactive compounds in this family (e.g., 1–4). Bioactive members from DHA‐containing conjugated triene structures or docosatrienes (DT) that possess immunoregulatory and neuroprotective actions were termed neuroprotectins. Aspirin treatment initiates a related epimeric series by triggering endogenous formation of the 17R‐D series resolvins and docosatrienes. These epimers are denoted as aspirin‐triggered (AT)‐RvD and DT, and possess potent anti‐in‐flammatory actions in vivo essentially equivalent to their 17S series pathway products. These include five distinct series: (i) 18R resolvins from EPA (i.e., RvE1); (ii) 17R series (AT) resolvins from DHA (RvD1 through RvD4); (iii) 17S series resolvins from DHA (RvD1 through RvD4), (iv) DT from DHA; and (v) their AT form 17R series DT. In this article, we provide an overview of the formation and actions of these newly uncovered pathways and products.

Supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) induces a number of physiological effects in experimental animals, including reduced body fat content, decreased aortic lipid deposition, and improved serum lipid profile. Controlled trials on the effects of CLA in humans have hitherto been scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with CLA in healthy humans on anthropometric and metabolic variables and on the fatty acid composition of serum lipids and thrombocytes. Fifty‐three healthy men and women, aged 23–63 yr, were randomly assigned to supplementation with CLA (4.2 g/d) or the same amount of olive oil during 12 wk in a double‐blind fashion. The proportion of body fat decreased (−3.8%, P<0.001) in the CLA‐treated group, with a significant difference from the control group (P=0.050). Body weight, body mass index, and sagittal abdominal diameter were unchanged. There were no major differences between the groups in serum lipoproteins, nonesterified fatty acids, plasma insulin, blood glucose, or plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI‐1). In the CLA group the proportions of stearic, docosatetraenoic, and docosapentaenoic acids increased in serum lipids and thrombocytes, while proportions of palmitic, oleic, and dihomoγ‐linolenic acids decreased, causing a decrease of the estimated Δ‐6 and Δ‐9 and an increase in the Δ‐5 desaturase activities. These results suggest that supplementation with CLA may reduce the proportion of body fat in humans and that CLA affects fatty acid metabolism. No effects on body weight, serum lipids, glucose metabolism, or PAI‐1 were seen.

All fatty acids have important functions, but the term “essential” is applied only to those polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that are necessary for good health and cannot be completely synthesized in the body. The need for arachidonic acid, which is utilized for eicosanoid synthesis and is a constituent of membrane phospholipids involved in signal transduction, is the main reason why the n‐6 class of PUFA are essential. Physiological data indicate that n‐3 PUFA also are essential. Although eicosapentaenoic acid also is a substrate for eicosanoid synthesis, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is more likely to be the essential n‐3 constituent because it is necessary for optimal visual acuity and neural development. DHA is present in large amounts in the ethanolamine and serine phospholipids, suggesting that its function involves membrane structure. Because the metabolism of n‐6 PUFA is geared primarily to produce arachidonic acid, only small amounts of 22‐carbon n‐6 PUFA are ordinarily formed. Thus, the essentiality of n‐3 PUFA may be due to their ability to supply enough 22‐carbon PUFA for optimal membrane function rather than to a unique biochemical property of DHA.