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Plasma lipids and their fatty acid composition in multiple sclerosis
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients show a deficiency in essential fatty acids, specifically linoleic and arachidonic acids, with levels correlating to disease duration and disability. This essential fatty acid deficit may not be exclusive to MS.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Nutrition
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Altered lipid metabolism is implicated in various chronic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma lipid profiles and fatty acid composition in MS patients.
- To compare these profiles with those of healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of plasma lipid profiles and fatty acid composition.
- Comparison between 61 MS patients and 61 normal subjects.
Main Results:
- MS patients exhibited reduced proportions of linoleic and arachidonic acids, particularly in HDL and cholesteryl esters.
- A compensatory increase in saturated fatty acids was observed in MS patients.
- Fatty acid abnormalities correlated with disease duration and disability severity.
Conclusions:
- A deficiency in essential fatty acids was identified in the studied MS population.
- This metabolic abnormality, while present in MS, may not be specific to the disease.