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Blood sphingomyelins from two European countries
1Department of Nutrition, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|September 14, 1995
Summary
Human blood sphingomyelin composition differs between Greek and French populations, potentially explaining coronary heart disease rate variations. These findings highlight the impact of diet, like olive oil, on cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Lipidomics
- Cardiovascular Science
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rates vary significantly across European populations.
- Dietary fat composition, particularly saturated vs. unsaturated fats, is a key factor influencing CHD risk.
- Sphingomyelins (SMs) are important lipids in cell membranes, and their composition may reflect dietary influences and impact cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and analyze human blood sphingomyelins from two European populations (Greek and French) with differing dietary fat intake and CHD mortality rates.
- To identify differences in sphingomyelin composition, including sphingoid bases, fatty acids, and ceramides, between the populations.
- To explore the potential link between sphingomyelin variations and observed differences in coronary heart disease incidence.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from healthy adult volunteers in Greece (Thessaloniki) and France (Paris).
- Sphingomyelin fractions were isolated from red blood cells and plasma using thin-layer chromatography.
- Analysis was performed using mass spectrometry with soft chemical ionization (gas ammonia) to identify sphingoid bases, fatty acids, and ceramides.
Main Results:
- Eight sphingoid bases (major: sphingosine) and fourteen fatty acids (major: palmitic acid) were detected in both populations.
- Thirty-eight ceramides were found in red blood cells and forty in plasma, with thirty-six common to both.
- Statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) were observed in specific sphingoid bases, fatty acids, and ceramides between the Greek and French populations, including variations in saturation levels.
Conclusions:
- Dietary fat intake, such as high monounsaturated fat (olive oil) consumption in Greeks, influences human blood sphingomyelin composition.
- Environmental and genetic factors also contribute to observed lipidomic differences.
- The identified sphingomyelin compositional differences between the populations are suggested to be a contributing factor to the disparities in coronary heart disease rates.