[Lipids of the human gingiva]

Human normal gingiva showed a distribution of 2/3 of non phosphorylated lipids and 1/3 of phospholipids, as well as a prevalence of free fatty acids, triglycerides and esters of cholesterol in relatively high rate. An important quantity of phosphatidylcholines, of phosphatidylethanolamines and sphingomyelins was also noted. The other phospholipids were present but in smaller quantity. The participation of the phsopholipids in the keratinization process of the oral mucosa has been discussed.