Serum fatty acids in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Total lipid extracts of serum samples from 47 patients with multiple sclerosis and 38 controls were analyzed for fatty acid composition. In the multiple sclerosis group linoleic acid was significantly lower. The group average was 22.3% as compared with 25.6% for the controls. It was found that linoleic acid decreases progressively with increasing deterioration in the patient''s condition. Dietary differences, variation in age, seasonal variation, physical disability or sex were not found to be factors influencing the results. Palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid and oleic acid remained relatively constant. A lowered level of linoleic acid in the serum lipids could result from a diminished entry of this fatty acid into the blood or an increased rate of removal from the blood. It is also possible that low levels of plasma linoleic acid might result from some cause in the central nervous system or elsewhere which affects the uptake from or entry into the plasma of linoleic acid. At present however, the nature of the abnormality is only speculation.