Essential fatty acids in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients

Statistical evaluation of essential fatty acids (determined by gas chromatography) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with definite MS and acute CCT showed marked differences as compared to healthy subjects. It was also evident that the decrease of essential fatty acids in MS patients differed from that of CCT patients. Whereas the fatty acid levels in the serum of MS patients revealed only minor differences as compared to the controls and CCT patients, MS patients did show a clear decrease, especially of linoleic and arachidonic acids, in the CSF. This difference was most pronounced in cholesterol esters in the CSF. One absorption study with safflower oil demonstrated normal enteral absorption of essential fatty acids and the ability to cross the blood-CSF barrier.

Purification and properties of the fatty acid synthetase complex from the marine dinoflagellate, Crypthecodinium cohnii

De novo biosynthesis of fatty acids in the heterotrophic marine dinoflagellate, Crypthecodinium cohnii, has been studied in vitro. Fatty acid synthetase was located in the cytosol and its activity was dependent on acetyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA, NADPH2 and NADH2. The enzyme was purified 100-fold using ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25, adsorption to hydroxyapatite and gel filtration on Sepharose 4B columns. Very active endogenous proteases were separated from the fatty acid synthetase at the first step of purification. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of about 400000, as judged from gel filtration, sucrose density gradient centrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions in the presence of SDS and urea revealed one major protein band of Mr 180000, suggesting that the enzyme is composed of two multifunctional subunits of apparently identical molecular weight. Reaction products of the C. cohnii fatty acid synthetase are free fatty acids due to the presence of a thioesterase activity in the purified enzyme complex. The main product is palmitate. Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6, n-3), the major fatty acid component of C. cohnii lipids, is not directly synthesized by the enzyme.

[Fat and renal failure--therapeutic aspects]

There is current debate as to whether or not the hyperlipidaemia seen in patients (1) with chronic renal insufficiency, (2) on regular dialysis treatment and (3) after successful renal transplantation should be specifically treated. The reduced HDL cholesterol fraction suggests that the risk of cardiovascular complications may be increased. Therapeutic possibilities include increased physical exercise and a reduction of carbohydrate intake. If these measures fail, then treatment with clofibrate or bezafibrate should be considered. The recommended dosage of clofibrate is 1.0-1.5 g/week (with CPK-control), and of bezafibrate is 400-500 mg/week in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (creatinin-clearance below 20 ml/min). In patients on regular dialysis treatment plasma lipids are reduced by adding carnitine. Most investigators believe that a specific therapy of the hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia of patients with nephrotic syndrome is not necessary since the disturbances in fat metabolism are associated with an increased levels of HDL-cholesterol. With remission of the nephrotic syndrome an improvement of the hyperlipoproteinaemia is observed. If patients with acute renal failure are under parenteral nutrition fat infusion is recommended once per week to avoid a deficiency of essential fatty acids which is augmented by daily dialysis therapy.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopic identification and quantification of arachidonic acid in wheat-germ oil

Gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopic evidence is presented for the presence of arachidonic acid ((all-Z)-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid) in virgin wheat-germ oil. The amount of arachidonic acid in wheat-germ oil, determined as methyl ester using gas chromatographic detection, was quantified with reference to a standard methyl ester from authentic arachidonic acid. The presence of arachidonic acid and prostaglandins in higher plants is discussed.

Silymarin, an inhibitor of lipoxygenase

Silybin (I), silydianin (II) and silychristin (III), the constituents of silymarin, non-competitively inhibit the lipoxygenase from soybeans (EC 1.13.11.12) in vitro.

[Fatty-acid pattern of serum lipids (standards for mothers, placentas and infants)]

The standard distribution of the fatty acids in the total lipids of serum was gaschromatographically defined in the respective umbilical cord blood of 24 mothers and their newborn babies, as well as in 20 placentas. The same examinations were made with 30 newborn babies on the day of birth, 14 children in the newborn stage, 22 young babies between 3 and 10 weeks old and 16 older babies between 4 and 12 months old. In the umbilical cord mixed blood of another collective (n = 10) the separation of the total serum lipids in the individual fatty fractions (neutral lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol esters) was also undertaken. The results were compared and existing differences were discussed. It was further established that an advance towards the adult's fatty acid pattern already takes place at an age between 4 and 12 months.