Vnitr Lek 1991, 37(1):37-40

[Essential fatty acids in carcinoma].

J Skorepa, E Sindelková, Z Zadák: Laborator pro výzkum aterosklerózy I. LF UK Praha.

Klíčová slova: Carcinoma, blood, ; Fatty Acids, Essential, blood, ; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Disorders, blood,

Carcinomatous tissue consumes intensely polyenic fatty acids which are the building elements of growing biomembranes. The authors compared plasma levels of essential fatty acids (EFA) in three groups of subjects: 1. patients with carcinoma, 2. control group, 3. groups with sub-nutrition. The profile in these three groups differs significantly. In patients with carcinoma the level of derived EFA is reduced (20:4w6, 20:5w3, 22:6w3), while primary EFA (linoleic acid 18:2w6) is unaltered. The results suggest that in patients with carcinoma there is a specific reduction of EFA essential for the formation of cellular biomembranes. The reduction is probably due to the increased consumptions of derived EFA by carcinomatous tissues.