Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of the nutritional state of children in a Congolese village

II. Plasma fatty acid composition

  • Pediatrics in developing countries
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The fatty acid status of an unselected group of 84 Congolese children was determined by estimating the fatty acid composition of the plasma phospholipid (PL) and cholesterolester (CE) fractions using capillary gas chromatography. In comparison with North American and European children a wide range of values and low mean percentages (related to the fatty acids of a chain length of 14–24 carbon atoms) were found for the following fatty acids (mean±SD): linoleic acid (LA) (PL: 17.19±3.85; CE: 40.13±7.72); arachidonic acid (AA) (PL: 6.60±2.28; CE 4.32±1.71); dihomo-gammalinolenic acid (DHLA) (PL: 1.80±0.68; CE 0.41±0.22). On average, ω3 fatty acids were higher than in reference groups, while similar values were found for the monoenoic and ω9 fatty acids. No sample contained eicosatrienoic acid, 20:3ω9 (ETA) which, dependent on analytical methods, may be difficult to separate from behenic acid (22:0). Changes in the relation between the two lipid fractions occurred when the LA content in CE was less than 35%. Also the correlation between LA and AA in CE, which was significant below 35% LA (r=0.84), changed with higher values for LA (r=0.01). These findings may indicate that alterations in fatty acid metabolism occur when LA values in CE — which are supposed to be directly related to the dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids — fall below 35% of all fatty acids in this lipid fraction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid, 20:4ω6

CE:

cholesterol ester

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid, 20:3ω6

DHLA:

dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, 20:6ω3

EFA:

essential fatty acids

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5ω3

ETA:

eicosatrienoic acid, 20:3ω9

FA:

fatty acids

LA:

linoleic acid, 18:2ω6

LLA:

linolenic acid, 18:3ω3

OA:

oleic acid, 18:1ω9

PL:

phospholipids

P/S:

quotient polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acids

References

  1. Anderson RE (1970) Lipids of ocular tissues. IV. A comparison of the phospholipids from retinas of six mammalian species. Exp Eye Res 10:339–344

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bruckner GG, Lokesh B, German B, Kinsella JE (1984) Biosynthesis of prostanoids, tissue fatty acid composition and thrombotic parameters in rats fed diets enriched with docosahexaenoic or eicosapentaenoic acid. Thromb Res 34:479–497

    Google Scholar 

  3. Doehring E, Ehrich JH, Bremer HJ (1986) Reversibility of urinary tract abnormalities in Schistosoma haematobium infection. Kidney Int 30:582–585

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dyerberg J, Bang HO (1979) Haemostatic function and platelet polyunsaturated fatty acids in Eskimos. Lancet II:433–435

    Google Scholar 

  5. Folch J, Lees M, Sloane Stanley GH (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J Biol Chem 226:497–509

    Google Scholar 

  6. Holman RT (1968) Essential fatty acid deficiency. In: Holman RT (ed) Progress in chemistry of fats and other lipids. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 275–348

    Google Scholar 

  7. Holman RT, Smythe L, Johnson S (1979) Effect of sex and age on fatty acid composition of human serum lipids. Am J Clin Nutr 32: 2390–2399

    Google Scholar 

  8. Holman RT, Johnson SB, Mercuri O, Itarte HJ, Rodrigo MA, De Tomas ME (1981) Essential fatty acid deficiency in malnourished children. Am J Clin Nutr 34:1534–1539

    Google Scholar 

  9. Honigmann G, Gnauck G, Briedigkeit W, Singer P, Stolz P, Schliack V (1975) Das Fettsäurenmuster der Triglyceride und Cholesterolester im Serum von stoffwechselgesunden Kindern. Dtsch Gesundheitswes 30:1465–1468

    Google Scholar 

  10. Horrobin DF, Cunnane SC (1981) Is the triene/tetraene ratio always a valid indicator of functional essential fatty acid deficiency? Prog Lipid Res 20:831–833

    Google Scholar 

  11. Knuiman JT, West CE, Hermus JJ, Hautvast JGAJ (1980) Fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters from serum in boys from 16 developing and developed countries. Atherosclerosis 37:617–624

    Google Scholar 

  12. Koletzko B, Abiodun PO, Laryea MD, Bremer HJ (1986) Fatty acid composition of plasma lipids in Nigerian children with protein-energy malnutrition. Eur J Pediatr 145:109–115

    Google Scholar 

  13. Koletzko B, Abiodun PO, Laryea MD, Schmid S, Bremer HJ (1986) Comparison of fatty acid composition of plasma lipid fractions in well-nourished Nigerian and German infants and toddlers. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 5:581–585

    Google Scholar 

  14. Koletzko B, Mrotzek M, Bremer HJ (1988) Fatty acid composition of mature human milk in Germany. Am J Clin Nutr 47:954–959

    Google Scholar 

  15. Langan SM, Farell PM (1985) Vitamin E, vitamin A and essential fatty acid status of patients hospitalized for anorexia nervosa. Am J Clin Nutr 41:1054–1060

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lasserre M, Mendy F, Spielmann D, Jacotot B (1985) Effects of different dietary intake of essential fatty acids on C20:3w6 and C20:4w6 serum levels in human adults. Lipids 20:227–233

    Google Scholar 

  17. Leichsenring M, Doehring-Schwerdtfeger E, Laryea MD, Bremer HJ, Diamouangana J, Schroeder U, Wahn V (1988) Investigation of the nutritional state of children in a Congolese village. I. Anthropometrical data, plasma prealbumin, albumin, immunoglobulins, ferritin, C-reactive protein, circulating immune complexes. Eur J Pediatr 148:155–158

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lundberg WO (1980) The significance of cis,cis,cis-5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid in essential fatty acid deficiency. Nutr Rev 38:233–235

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mahfouz MM, Smith TL, Kummerow FA (1984) Effect of dietary fats on desaturase activities and the biosynthesis of fatty acids in rat-liver microsomes. Lipids 19:214–222

    Google Scholar 

  20. Moilanen T, Nikkari T (1981) The effect of storage on the fatty acid composition of human serum. Clin Chim Acta 114:111–116

    Google Scholar 

  21. Moilanen T, Räsänen L, Viikari J, Akerblom HK, Ahola M, Uhari M, Pasanen M, Nikkari T (1985) Fatty acid composition of serum cholesteryl esters in 3- to 18-year-old Finnish children and its relation to diet. Am J Clin Nutr 42:708–713

    Google Scholar 

  22. Moilanen T, Nikkari T, Viikari J, Akerblom HK, Räsänen L, Ahola M, Dahl M, Lähde PL, Pesonen E, Pietikäinen M, Suoninen P, Uhari M (1985) Atherosclerosis precursors in Finnish children and adolescents. V. Fatty acid composition of serum cholesteryl esters: regional differences in Finland. Acta Paediatr Scand [Suppl] 318:111–117

    Google Scholar 

  23. Naismith DJ (1973) Kwashiorkor in western Nigeria: a study of traditional weaning foods, with particular reference to energy and linoleic acid. Br J Nutr 30:567–576

    Google Scholar 

  24. Neuringer M, Conner WE (1986) n-3 Fatty acids in the brain and retina: evidence for their essentiality. Nutr Rev 44:285–294

    Google Scholar 

  25. Nikkari T, Räsänen L, Viikari J, Akerblom HK, Vuori I, Pyöräla K, Uhari M, Dahl M, Lähde PL, Pesonen E, Suoninen P (1983) Serum fatty acids in 8-year-old Finnish boys: correlations with qualitative dietary data and other serum lipids. Am J Clin Nutr 37:848–854

    Google Scholar 

  26. O'Brien JS, Fillerup DL, Mean JF (1964) Quantification of fatty acid and fatty aldehyde composition of ethanolamine choline, and serine glycerophosphatides in human cerebral grey and white matter. J Lipid Res 5:329–338

    Google Scholar 

  27. Pikaar NA, Fernandes J (1966) Influence of different types of dietary fat on the fatty acid composition of some serum lipid fractions in infants and children. Am J Clin Nutr 19:194–204

    Google Scholar 

  28. Stone KJ, Willis AL, Hart M, Kirtland SJ, Kernoff PBA, McNicol GP (1979) The metabolism of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid in man. Lipids 14:174–180

    Google Scholar 

  29. Waterlow JC (1973) Note on the assessment and classification of protein energy malnutrition. Lancet I:87–89

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wolff JA, Margolis S, Wolff KB, Matusick E, MacLean WC (1984) Plasma and red blood cell fatty acid composition in children with protein-calorie malnutrition. Pediatr Res 18:162–167

    Google Scholar 

  31. Zöllner N, Wolfram G, Londong W, Kirsch K (1966) Untersuchungen über die Plasmalipoide des Neugeborenen, Säuglings und Kleinkindes. Klin Wochenschr 44:380–386

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sektion Tropenpädiatrie, Kinderklinik der Universität, Im Neuenheimer Feld, D-6900, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany

    M. Leichsenring & H. J. Bremer

  2. Kinderklinik der Universität, D-4000, Düsseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany

    M. D. Laryea

  3. Kinderklinik der Universität, D-3000, Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany

    E. Doehring-Schwerdtfeger

  4. Ministry of Scientific Research, Brazzaville, People's Republic of the Congo

    J. Diamouangana

Authors
  1. M. Leichsenring
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Doehring-Schwerdtfeger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. D. Laryea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Diamouangana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. J. Bremer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by a grant from the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft”, Br 282/13-1)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leichsenring, M., Doehring-Schwerdtfeger, E., Laryea, M.D. et al. Investigation of the nutritional state of children in a Congolese village. Eur J Pediatr 148, 159–163 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00445928

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00445928

Key words

Search

Navigation