Dietary eritadenine modifies plasma phosphatidylcholine molecular species profile in rats fed different types of fat

The effect of dietary eritadenine on plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecular species composition was investigated in relation to its hypocholesterolemic action in rats fed different types of fats (olive oil, corn oil and linseed oil; 100 g/kg diet). Eritadenine supplementation (50 mg/kg diet) significantly decreased the plasma total cholesterol concentration, irrespective of dietary fat sources, and without change in the order of plasma cholesterol concentration among the fat groups (corn oil > olive oil > linseed oil). Eritadenine significantly decreased the ratio of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in liver microsomes of all the fat groups, while the PC:PE ratio was unaffected by dietary fat type. The fatty acid and molecular species composition of plasma PC was affected either directly or indirectly by the fatty acid composition of dietary fats. The proportion of linoleic acid and linoleic acid-containing molecular species (16:0-18:2 and 18:0-18:2) in plasma PC was the highest in rats fed linseed oil, despite the fact that linoleic acid concentration of linseed oil was only 1/3 that of corn oil. Eritadenine supplementation significantly increased the proportion of linoleic acid and linoleic acid-containing molecular species, especially 16:0-18:2, in plasma PC, irrespective of dietary fat source. Altered plasma PC molecular species composition, as represented by an increase in 16:0-18:2 PC, might contribute to the hypocholesterolemic action of eritadenine.