Further Studies on the Unsaturated Fatty Acids Essential in Nutrition

Abstract

The effectiveness of the following substances to cure the ‘fat-deficiency’ disease in rats was tested for the first time; erucic acid, ricinoleic acid, Δ^12:13 -oleic acid, chaulmoogric acid and linoleyl alcohol. Arachidonic acid was retested, and the effects of different levels of linoleic acid were estimated. The fatty acids were fed in the form of their methyl or ethyl esters. Erucic, ricinoleic, Δ^12:13-oleic, and chaulmoogric acids proved ineffective. In experiments conducted with four levels of linoleic acid, it was found that the maximal growth response in plateaued ‘fat-deficient’ females ensued when approximately 100 mg. of methyl linoleate were fed daily; twice this amount did not further improve growth, whereas half of it was patently inadequate. Linoleyl alcohol showed some curative properties, although it was less effective than linoleic acid. Arachidonic acid was found to be a powerful curative agent; it produced maximal growth response when 33 mg. of the methyl ester were fed daily, and was hence very definitely superior to linoleic acid in this respect.