ESSENTIAL FATTY-ACID METABOLISM IN SOUTH INDIANS

Coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension and diabetes mellitus are more common in Indians compared to their incidence in the Western popu lation. The exact reason for this is not known. One of the risk factor s for the development of and complications due to CAD, hypertension an d diabetes mellitus could be hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance a nd low plasma levels of arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, me tabolites of dietary essential fatty acids (EFAs), cis-linoleic and al pha-linolenic acids. Fatty acid analysis of the plasma phospholipid (P L) fraction of normal Indians showed that they have low concentrations of arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid i n comparison to those seen in Canadian and Minnesota (USA) normals. Si nce insulin can activate EFA metabolism, this alteration in the EFA me tabolism may, at least, in part explain the high incidence of CAD, hyp ertension and diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance and hyperinsuli nemia that are common in Indians.