Fatty acid composition of human plasma lipoprotein fractions

Abstract

Serial samples of plasma were obtained from two fasting normal adult men who had consumed a diet with a slightly reduced fat content for 1 week previously. Three lipoprotein fractions were collected from each sample by ultracentrifugation at densities of 1.019, 1.063, and 1.21. The fatty acid distribution of cholesterol esters, triglycerides, and phospholipids of each lipoprotein fraction was determined.The fatty acid compositions of corresponding lipid classes were very similar in the three lipoprotein fractions in each subject, although small but distinct differences did exist. Linoleic acid predominated in the cholesterol esters, oleic acid in the triglycerides, and palmitic acid was the major fatty acid in the phospholipids. The results suggest that in the postabsorptive state each lipid class originates from the same source in all three lipoproteins.