EFFECTS OF MALNUTRITION AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS ON THE FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF PLASMA PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN THE ELDERLY

The fatty acid profiles of plasma phospholipids have been compared in 53 elderly subjects suffering from malnutrition (group U, 17 subjects) or from atherosclerosis (group A, 15 subjects). A control group was a lso included in the study (group C, 21 subjects). Main differences wer e observed in phosphatidylcholine (PC). In group U, the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids increased in PC, which was reflected by an increase in unsaturated fatty acids without significant modification of essential fatty acids. In group A, no major modification has been o bserved statistically, although the proportion of saturated fatty acid s tended to increase.