TRANS FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF THE ADIPO SE-TISSUE OF A FRENCH POPULATION AND THE ALIMENTARY ORIGINS OF THESE ACIDS

The composition of trans monoenoic, dienoic and trienoic fatty acids i n the subcutaneous adipose tissue was analyzed relative to the dietary sources of trans fatty acids, ruminant fats and partially hydrogenate d oils. Adipose tissue trans fatty acids from 71 adults were determine d using a combination of capillary gas-liquid chromatography and silve r nitrate thin-layer chromatography The mean total trans fatty acid co ntent of adipose tissue was 2. 38 +/- 0.77 % in 43 non-pregnant women, 2. 77 +/- 0.51 % in 18 pregnant women and 1.77 +/- 0.23 % in IO men. Total 18:1 trans isomers were 75-85 % of total trans fatty acids versu s 16-18 % for total 18:2, 2-5 % for 16:1 and 0.9-1.4 % for 18:3 isomer s. Based on the 18:1 trans content of adipose tissue, the population t rans consumption is clearly lower than those of the other European cou ntries, USA and Canada. The dietary trans fatty acids were supplied by ruminant fats and partially hydrogenated oils. Of the 18:1 trans posi tional isomers, the Delta 11 t is the most prevalent in adipose tissue like in ruminant fats, suggesting that these ones are an important di etary source of these trans fatty acids.