CHANGES OF N-3 AND N-6 FATTY-ACIDS IN PLASMA AND CIRCULATING CELLS OFNORMAL SUBJECTS, AFTER PROLONGED ADMINISTRATION OF 20 5 (EPA) AND 22/6 (DHA) ETHYL-ESTERS AND PROLONGED WASHOUT/

Eight normal volunteers (four men and four women) were treated with 3 X 1 g capsules of n - 3 fatty acid ethyl esters for a period of 18 wee ks, followed by a 24 week washout. Fatty acids of plasma, platelets, m onocytes and red blood cells were analyzed at 0, 6, 12 and 18 weeks of treatment and at 4, 14 and 24 weeks of washout. During treatment, acc umulation of EPA in plasma and cells was almost maximal at 6 weeks, wh ereas that of DHA reached a peak at 18 weeks. Arachidonic acid decline d somewhat at 12 weeks in plasma and more markedly at 18 weeks in red blood cells and monocytes. During washout, EPA returned rapidly toward pretreatment values in all compartments, but it remained significantl y higher in plasma and platelets at the end of washout. DHA declined m ore slowly, maintaining higher than basal values in plasma and platele ts and lower than basal in red blood cells, at the end of washout. Reb ound increments of AA occurred in platelets and plasma. Finally, the p lasma levels of AA, but not those of the n - 3 fatty acids, were more markedly modified in males than in females. The presented results sugg est interactions between circulating fatty acids in the different comp artments after n - 3 FA administration, and indicate that very long wa shouts are necessary for a complete recovery from the induced fatty ac id modifications.