Table 2.
Fatty Acid Composition in Red Blood Cells
| Fatty acid | Higher n-3 PUFA diet (adequate) | Lower n-3 PUFA diet (deficient) |
|---|---|---|
| Lauric (12:0) | 0.20 ± 0.02 | 0.20 ± 0.08 |
| Myristic (14:0) | 0.70 ± 0.02 | 0.80 ± 0.08 |
| Palmitic (16:0) | 26.40 ± 0.20 | 26.60 ± 0.27 |
| Stearic (18:0) | 11.80 ± 0.21 | 12.20 ± 0.26 |
| Arachidic (20:0) | 0.20 ± 0.01 | 0.20 ± 0.02 |
| Behenic (22:0) | 0.70 ± 0.01 | 0.60 ± 0.05 |
| Lignoceric (24:0) | 1.40 ± 0.03 | 1.20 ± 0.08 |
| Palmitoleic (16:1n-7) | 1.40 ± 0.04 | 1.50 ± 0.07 |
| Oleic (18:1n-9) | 12.10 ± 0.28 | 12.40 ± 0.16 |
| Vaccenic (18:1n-7) | 3.00 ± 0.10 | 3.20 ± 0.15 |
| Eicosenoic (20:1n-12) | 0.30 ± 0.00 | 0.40 ± 0.01* |
| Gondoic (20:1n-9) | 0.20 ± 0.01 | 0.20 ± 0.01 |
| Erucic (22:1n-9) | 0.10 ± 0.00 | 0.10 ± 0.01 |
| Nervoinic (24:1n-9) | 1.20 ± 0.06 | 0.90 ± 0.07* |
| Linoleic (18:2n-6) | 9.60 ± 0.15 | 9.30 ± 0.45 |
| Eicosadienoic (20:2n-6) | 0.10 ± 0.00 | 0.10 ± 0.01 |
| Docosadienoic acid (22:2n-6) | 0.02 ± 0.00 | 0.02 ± 0.00 |
| Gamma linolenic (18:3n-6) | 0.10 ± 0.00 | 0.10 ± 0.00 |
| Homogamma linolenic (20:3n-6) | 1.80 ± 0.02 | 1.60 ± 0.04* |
| Arachidonic (20:4n-6) | 18.50 ± 0.19 | 21.00 ± 0.53† |
| Adrenic (22:4n-6) | 1.40 ± 0.00 | 2.30 ± 0.06‡ |
| Docosapentaenoic (22:5n-6) | 0.50 ± 0.01 | 4.30 ± 0.04‡ |
| Alpha linolenic (18:3n-3) | 0.10 ± 0.00 | 0.01 ± 0.00‡ |
| Timnodonic (20:5n-3) | 0.50 ± 0.01 | 0.10 ± 0.01‡ |
| Docosapentaenoic (22:5n-3) | 0.80 ± 0.01 | 0.20 ± 0.03‡ |
| Docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) | 6.70 ± 0.06 | 0.40 ± 0.02‡ |
Weight percent data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 3).
*
p < 0.05; †p < 0.01; ‡p < 0.001.
PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid.