Folate administration increases n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in rat plasma and tissue lipids

It has been shown that folic acid deficiency can modify polyunsaturated fat ty acid (PUFA) metabolism and thus could contribute to the development of c ardiovascular diseases. We have studied the effect of folate administration on fatty acid composition of plasma, platelet, erythrocyte, intestinal and liver lipids. Two groups of rats were daily injected with either saline so lution (control group) or 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (MTHF) solution (MTHF g roup) for 15 days. Changes induced by folate treatment on n-6 PUFA were not very significant. Linoleic acid only decreased in liver and intestinal pho spholipids of MTHF rats whereas arachidonic acid was unaffected by folate a dministration. However, n-3 PUFA significantly increased in plasma lipid fr actions and in platelet, erythrocyte and intestinal phospholipids. It is we ll known that n-3 PUFA show antithrombotic properties. Thus, the increase o f n-3 PUFA observed after MTHF administration might contribute to the preve ntion of vascular disorders.