EFFECTS OF CYCLOPROPENOID FATTY-ACIDS (BAOBAB SEED OIL) ON THE FATTY-ACID PROFILE OF LIPIDS FROM DIFFERENT TISSUES IN THE RAT

Rats were fed for 8 weeks a diet containing either Baobab seed oil (FB O) rich in cyclopropenoid fatty acids (CPFA) or heated oil (HBO) devoi d of CPFA. In FBO rats, compared to controls (CO), the monounsaturated fatty acid content of adipose tissue lipids, liver triacylglycerols, liver and adrenal cholesteryl esters and liver, kidney, adrenal phosph olipids were highly decreased to the benefit of saturated fatty acid c ontent. in cholesteryl esters and phospholipids, the arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) content was markedly decreased, especially in adrenals. In adrenal cholesteryl esters, adrenic acid (22:4 n-6) content war decrea sed more than its precursor. The effects of HBO on the tissue lipid fa tty acid profile were practically absent. It is concluded that inhibit ion of fatty acid desaturation by CPFA previously demonstrated in vitr o, was reflected in vivo in tissue lipid fatty acid composition.