The
fatty acid composition of serum
phospholipids and
cholesteryl esters was analysed in 71 male patients with angiographically defined three-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) selected for a coronary bypass operation. Their 71 control subjects were matched according to age, sex, smoking, relative weight, and absence of CAD. The concentrations of
fatty acids, 14:0, 16:0 and 16:1 of the serum
phospholipids, were significantly (P less than 0.01, P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively) higher in CAD patients than in the controls. On the other hand, linoleic (18:2 omega 6), linolenic (18:3 omega 3) and arachidonic (20:4 omega 6)
acids were at a significantly lower level in the patients when compared to the controls. The polyunsaturated/
saturated fatty acids (P/S) ratio in serum
phospholipids was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower in the patients than in the controls. In the
cholesteryl ester fraction the results paralleled those of the
phospholipids. Significant correlations were obtained between the
polyunsaturated fatty acids and the
high density lipoprotein cholesterol or
apolipoprotein A-I in the control subjects but most of these correlations were absent in the patients. Our present results further support the importance of
linoleic acid in the protection against
atherosclerosis. However, no unequivocal evidence on the possible beneficial effect of long-chain omega 3-fatty
acids in comparison with omega 6-acids was obtained.