THE DISTRIBUTION OF FATTY-ACID ETHYL-ESTERS AMONG LIPOPROTEINS AND ALBUMIN IN HUMAN SERUM

Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) are nonoxidative products of ethanol m etabolism and have been implicated as mediators of ethanol-induced org an damage, Previous studies have demonstrated that FAEEs bind to lipop roteins and albumin in human plasma after ethanol ingestion. Analysis of human serum with varying blood ethanol levels and endogenously form ed FAEEs revealed a positive correlation between serum FAEE concentrat ion and the percentage of FAEEs associated with lipoproteins, predomin antly very low density and low density lipoprotein. Similar results we re obtained when increasing amounts of FAEEs were added to serum with zero blood ethanol. Additional studies indicated that free fatty acids and FAEEs do not compete for binding to albumin or lipoproteins. Data support the conclusion that the distribution of FAEEs among their car riers in the serum is dependent on serum FAEE concentration.