linoleic-acid and Vitamin-A-Deficiency

Deficiencies of essential fatty acids (EFA), vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (alpha- and gamma-tocopherol) were studied in non-HPN patients with different degrees of fat malabsorption (managing without home parenteral nutrition (HPN)), and in HPN-patients receiving HPN with and without parenteral lipids.. Phospholipid fatty acids (including EFA), cholesterol, retinol, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol in plasma and the intestinal absorption of fatty acids and energy (balance-studies) were measured in 40 non-HPN patients, 44 HPN patients and 35 controls. Subgroups were non-HPN patients with fat:total energy absorption ratios >25% (A), between 15 and 25% (B), and <15% (C), and HPN patients receiving (D) and not receiving parenteral lipids (E).. Intestinal absorption of the EFA linoleic acid was 8.2, 4.4, 3.8, 0.5 and 0.5 g/day and corresponding plasma concentrations were 17.3%, 15.5%, 13.1%, 12.1% and 8.9% in groups A-E, respectively (P<0.001). Deficiencies in EFA, defined as a Holman index >0.2 (20:3n-9/20:4n-6 ratio), were confined to 42% of the patients in group E. Plasma cholesterol was decreased in groups B-E. Plasma retinol was reduced (below the lower 2.5% confidence interval of controls) in 7% of non-HPN patients and in 20% of HPN patients. Plasma alpha-tocopherol was reduced in 64% of patients from groups B-E. Plasma gamma-tocopherol was decreased in 33% of the patients, except in HPN-patients receiving parenteral lipids.. Plasma linoleic acid may decrease considerably (from 26% to 8-10%) as fat absorption decreases before secondary signs of essential fatty acid deficiencies occur (an increase in 20:3n-9 and the Holman index). In this study this was confined to patients on lipid-free HPN. Vitamin A deficiencies were mainly seen in HPN patients. Vitamin E deficiencies were common in both HPN and non-HPN patients, but administration of parenteral lipids normalized plasma gamma-tocopherol. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 632-642.

Topics: Adult; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Acids, Essential; Female; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Diseases; Linoleic Acid; Lipoproteins; Male; Middle Aged; Parenteral Nutrition, Home; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamin E Deficiency

To boost the edible oil production and attain self-sufficiency, one of the long-term strategies undertaken by the Indian government is promotion of palm oil production through oil palm cultivation. Compared to other traditional oils (except coconut oil) used in India, palm oil and palmolein have high saturated fatty acids and low linoleic acid levels. Studies conducted to evaluate the nutritional and health implications of substituting other oils with palmolein show that despite having low linoleic acid, the use of palm oil may not adversely affect the linoleic acid status of Indian population. Substitution of groundnut oil with palmolein in cereal based lactovegetarian diets providing about 30 per cent total fat calories, doubles the saturated fatty acids and reduces by half the linoleic acid content. The effects of this substitution in volunteers from the middle income group did not raise serum cholesterol and aggregability of platelets indicating that palm oil may not produce the deleterious effects associated with saturated fatty acids. The tocols present in palm oil are natural biological antioxidants and can therefore augment the antioxidant potential of Indian diets. Red palm oil is the richest natural source of carotenes which are powerful biological antioxidants. The major carotene in red palm oil is beta-carotene. Therefore, red palm oil can be used to prevent vitamin A deficiency which is widespread in India.

Topics: Cholesterol; Diet; Dietary Fats; Fatty Acids; Humans; India; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Nutrition Assessment; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional Requirements; Palm Oil; Plant Oils; Vitamin A Deficiency