Changes in the Fatty Acid Profile of Plasma and Adipose Tissue in Rats after Long‐Term Ethanol Feeding

Abstract

The effect of chronic ethanol feeding on the fatty acid composition of plasma and abdominal adipose tissue in rats was studied. Animals were maintained on a 30% ethanol solution in drinking water for 3 and 5 months. Control rats were given water. Caloric intake was similar in control and ethanol-fed rats at the end of the experimental period. However, a decrease in body weight was observed in rats that had consumed ethanol. Palmitoleic (16:1n7) and oleic (18:1n9) acids increased markedly, and linoleic acid (18:2n6) decreased in the plasma and in the adipose tissue of ethanol-fed rats with respect to control rats. After 3 months of ethanol ingestion, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids were reduced both in plasma and adipose tissue. When ethanol was administered for 5 months, only plasma long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 series were decreased. This suggest that changes induced by ethanol ingestion in essential fatty acid metabolism is less pronounced when ethanol feeding is maintained for a long period of time.

Chronic Alcoholism Decreases Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels in Human Plasma, Erythrocytes, and Platelets – Influence of Chronic Liver Disease

“…Clemens et al (8) reported a small decrease in 22:6n3 of erythrocyte phosphatidylethanolamine in alcoholic subjects and Johnson et al (29) also found a decrease of PLJFA of n3 series in plasma of alcoholics with cinhosis, but not in alcoholism alone. We have also recently described a reduction of these fatty acids in plasma and adipose tissue of rats after long-term ethanol feeding (26). In the present study, 22:6n3 showed a marked decrease in plasma, erytluocytes and platelets of the ALD group when compared to controls whereas in the A group this fatty acid was only significantly reduced in platelet phospholipids.…”

“…20:3n6 Eicosatrienoic acid 2-y2(t.4s-3.94) 3.w(t.9+3.67) 2'43 (l'35-3'00) 20:4n6 Arachidonic acid 8-12(5.53-9.29) 7.33 (4.75-9.57) 7't3 (3'tr-9J3) 20:5n3 Eicosapemaenoic acid O.nQ.C9l.62) 0.83 (0.0G2.59) t' 24(0'6a-2'63) 24fr Lignoceric aclt 22:6n3 Docosahexaenoic acid 3.14Q. MUFA Mononnsatrnated 15.40(10.65-n.45) 13.46(10.G19.33) 18'29 (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) PUFA Potynnsatrrated 36.56(43.67'2s.3t) 32.90(tg.2s43.e0) 34'72(t7'6341'94)…”

Alcohol‐Induced Lipid and Morphological Changes in Chick Retinal Development

“…Oleic acid, the main monounsaturated fatty acid in the retina, decreases dramatically at E7 in alcohol-treated chick embryos. Our results, however, do not coincide with those provided by Gómez-Tubio et al (1995). These authors recorded an increase of this fatty acid in adipose tissue and plasma of alcohol-treated rats.…”

Fatty Acid Composition of Lipids in Sea Buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) Berries of Different Origins

“…Fruit pulp/peel oil contains a high level of palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7, up to 43%) (15,16,20,22,23), which is not common in the plant kingdom. The oil is attracting more and more attention because of the increasing interest in the physiological role of the monounsaturated fatty acids (24)(25)(26)(27). The high content of carotenoids (up to 7 g/kg), tocopherols (up to 7 g/kg), and phytosterols (up to 20 g/kg) (14,(28)(29)(30)(31) are special characteristics of the oil from pulp/peel of the berries.…”