THE PLASMA FATS AND THE IODINE ABSORPTION CAPACITY OF THE FATTY ACIDS IN HYPERTHYROIDISM

Abstract

The amount of unsaturated fatty acids in relation to plasma fats as a possible cause of the observed diminution of surface tension of the blood serum in hyperthyroidism was determined. Eleven normal individuals and 16 cases of hyperthyroidism before and after I therapy were investigated, and data are presented on distribution of the fatty acids and their relative degree of unsaturation (I number) in the blood plasma. In untreated cases of hyperthyroidism the total fatty acids are markedly decreased and the I number of these acids greated increased, apparently because of decreased saturated acids. Under I therapy and after operation, coincident with the drop in BMR, the total fat rises and the I number becomes normal, due to an absolute increase in the saturated fat of the plasma. In severe hyperthyroidism the cholesterol content of the plasma is low, and rises with the increase of the saturated fatty acids as the clinical symptoms improve, and the BMR returns to normal under I treatment and operation.