SERUM FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC FEMALES

Differences in serum lipids, apoprotein levels, and fatty acid composi tions were investigated in normal and hyperlipidemic female subjects i n a rural area of Japan. Compared with normolipidemic subjects, hyperl ipidemic ones of type IIa showed only slight differences in fatty acid composition in the cholesterol ester fraction. Also compared with nor molipidemic subjects, the type IIb group had a lower proportion of 18: 2 fatty acids in the phospholipid fraction, while 16:1 and 18:1 fatty acids were higher and 18:2 fatty acids were lower in the cholesterol e ster fraction. Regarding type IV hyperlipidemics vs. normolipidemics, differences were evident in that in the former percentages of 18:2 fat ty acids were lower in the cholesterol ester, phospholipid, and trigly ceride fractions, while the percentages of 16:0 fatty acids were highe r in the cholesterol ester and triglyceride fractions and that of 22:6 fatty acid in the phospholipid fraction was higher. Dietary fatty aci d composition and cholesterol intake did not differ significantly amon g the groups.