Fatty acids in cystic fibrosis in response to a marathon race

Lipid metabolism was studied in three cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (18 years old) and three healthy controls (35-40 years old) who completed the New York Marathon 1984. Lipase was not detectable in plasma from two of the CF patients, but in one CF patient with a functioning pancreas and in the three controls it increased during and after the run. Cholesterol concentrations were lower in all patients than in the controls. The HDL/total cholesterol ratios increased in all runners throughout the observation period, substantially more in the patients than in the controls. Triglycerides and glycerol values were similar in the two groups. The relative distribution of fatty acids in total plasma, plasma free fatty acid fractions, and total red blood cell membranes, at rest, were similar to those earlier reported both for the CF patients with pancreatic insufficiency and for the controls. Lower relative concentrations of linoleic acid (C18:2n6) and higher relative concentrations of C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:3n6, and C20:3n6 were found in the CF specimens. During and after the race, linoleic acid concentration increased and the other fatty acids decreased, giving a more normalized pattern in the patients. The fatty acid pattern of the CF patient with a functioning pancreas behaved more like the healthy controls. The fatty acid pattern of the red cell membrane did not change during or after the run. Although the observations are few, it is encouraging that both the HDL/total cholesterol ratio and the fatty acid pattern improve in response to prolonged aerobic exercise.