SERUM FATTY-ACID ALBUMIN MOLAR RATIO AND THE RISK OF DISEASES

Free fatty acids (FFA) in blood are carried by serum albumin. A hypoth esis is offered that conditions giving a high molar ratio of FFA to al bumin may lead to dysfunction of the cells which are directly exposed to the high FFA/albumin ratio, i.e. the red and white blood cells, and endothelial cells. The hypothesis is supported by observations of (1) hemolytic effect of FFA, and protection by albumin in vitro, (2) inhi bition of white blood cells by FFA, (3) increased FFA/albumin ratio an d erythrocyte susceptibility to hemolysis in pre-eclampsia, (4) increa sed incidence of eclampsia in undernutrition, (5) the paradox that fam ine suppresses and refeeding activates malaria, and (6) an inverse rel ationship between serum albumin level and mortality.