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C18:2 omega 6/C18:3 omega 3 ratio was lowered in the diet of Elderly subjects. This was done by the replacement of usual sunflower oil by rapeseed oil or by supplementing soybean oil. This diet modification induced an increase of EPA (C20:5 omega 3) and DHA (C22:6 omega 3) in red cell phospholipids. The omega 6 fatty acids (C18:2 and C20:4) were slightly modified. Therefore, dietary C18:2 omega 6/C18:3 omega 3 ratio, seems to play an important role in the determination of membrane highly unsaturated fatty acid levels.

Blood and ovaries have been collected monthly for one year from 1358 cows at the slaughter-house. 4.4% of the cows presented cystic follicle ovaries (follicle with a diameter greater than or equal to 25 mm) and 5.7% presented cystic corpus luteum (internal cavity with a diameter greater than or equal to 10 mm). Analysis of fatty acid composition of red blood cells lipids has shown that in cows with cystic follicles (P less than 0.001) and in cows with cystic corpus luteum (P less than 0.01), the proportions of omega 3 family polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher than in normal cow. The sigma omega 3/ sigma omega 6 ratio was also higher (P less than 0.001) for cows with both types of ovarian cysts, particularly in spring, summer and autumn. An alimentary etiology of ovarian cysts pathogeny could be an increased intake of these fatty acids which are more abundant in young grass. The omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are known to be inhibitors of the synthesis of PgF2 alpha which is involved in ovulation and luteolysis.

Blood plasma lipids of women about seventy years old who had suffered from cardiovascular diseases (AVC) were studied and compared with the plasma lipids of women of about the same age without cardiac troubles. A great difference appears in the unesterified fatty acids of the phospholipids from cardiac women: we have observed a decreasing level of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a carbon chain of more than 18 carbons, and a decreasing ratio between the total concentration of the two precursors (linoleic acid omega and alpha-linolenic acid omega 3) and the total concentration of their long chain polyunsaturated derived fatty acids. On the contrary, we did not observe any significant variation of the unesterified fatty acid level in the plasma. The triglyceride and cholesterol levels also were not different between the two groups of patients. The hypothesis of a lack of elongation and of desaturation of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids by competitive inhibition with oleic acid seems improbable, since the plasmatic concentration of oleic acid was not statistically different.

Plasma fatty acids and lipid peroxidation were studied in human atherosclerosis. Analysis of fatty acids in 16 controls and 32 hyperlipidemic patients showed, in the latter, a decrease in saturated fatty acids, especially palmitic and stearic acids, and an increase in unsaturated fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid. Compared to hyperlipidemic patients without arterial injury, patients with arterial injury exhibit a significant increase in malonaldehyde (MDA). In the former, MDA concentrations are significantly increased compared to controls. Therefore, peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids may have a deleterious effect on arteries in atheroma, through the release of toxic endoperoxydes and the metabolization of arachidonic acid into thromboxane, which is a platelet aggregator. Lipid peroxidation can also be demonstrated in other diseases: we found very high MDA concentration in 11 alcoholic patients (alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis) and 6 patients with inflammatory conditions such as Crohn disease.

In the course of the foetal development of numerous animal species elevated serum concentrations of alpha-1-foetoprotein (AFP) are observed. The level of this foetal protein decreases after birth, but reappears in several pathological cases characterized by a cellular proliferation, in particular in neoplasia such as hepatoma and teratoblastoma. Little was known until 1971 on the biological role of this carcino-embryonic antigen. It has been since evidenced [Nunez and al., 1971, C.R. Acad. Sci., Paris, 273, 834-841]. That rat and mouse AFPs bind oestrogens with high affinity (Ka = 10(8) M-1) [Savu and al., 1972, F.E.B.S. Let., 22, 113-116]. Human AFP does not possess this property. We have recently shown [Benassayag and al., 1977, Steroids, 30, 771-785] that the sera from pregnant rats, rat and human foetuses contain compounds which behave as competitive inhibitors of the estrogen binding on rat or mouse AFP. We have subsequently identified this substances as a mixture of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) [Vallette and al., XXVII Colloquium "Protides of the biological fluids", Bruxelles, H. Peeters Ed., Pergamon Presse, 1979]. We have measured [BENASSAYAG and al., Oncodevelopmental biology and medicine, in press] the association constants of each NEFA of the serum mixture with rat AFP, the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (C 20:4, C 22:4, C 22:6) show the highest association constants (Ka = 10(5)-10(6) M-1). We have also confirmed that human AFP binds the PUFA with high affinity. The biological perspectives opened up by these novel data will be discussed.

The investigations were carried out on healthy young males aged 20-21 years. Those young men, whose previously different diets were determined by the dietary habits of their families, were selected and grouped under uniform conditions (feeding, housing, physical activity). After 4 months staying under these uniform conditions their diet was changed adding E.F.A. to their previous food rations. Food rations enriched with E.F.A. were given to these young males for 3 months. Then E.F.A. additions to the diet was stopped and the observed subjects received food rations, identical as during the initial 4-month period prior to E.F.A. enrichment, these rations were given during 5 months. Immediately after grouping these men were subjected to biochemical investigation of the serum and to anthropometric and general medical examinations (examination I). The subsequent examinations (II, III, IV) were carried out while the subjects were living under uniform conditions: II) after 4 months on the diet without E.F.A. enrichment, III) after 3 months on the diet enriched with E.F.A., and IV) after 5 months of diet without E.F.A. enrichment (after withdrawal of additional E.F.A.). The investigations were begun on 97 young males (examination I). The consecutive examinations (II, III, IV) were carried out on smaller groups of subjects for reasons on with the authors had no influence. During the experiment, 2-3 times in a month, sample of daily food rations given to the studied subjects and residual food on the plates were taken for analysis. This was done for determination of actual food intake. Through the whole period of the experiment the observed subjects were inquired about additional food consumed. The biochemical investigations of the nutritional state of these young subjects included hematological indices, serum proteins, selected biochemical components in the serum, activity of certain enzymes in the serum, serum lipid components and serum level of certain vitamins. The results of these investigations show the enrichment of diets during 3 months with vegetable fats (sunflower oil, margarine containing 40% of E.F.A.) for increasing the amount of E.F.A. in the whole daily food (together with additional food calculated on the basis of inquiry information) from 14.7 g to 27.7 g (3,2% kcal and 5,8% kcal respectively) has a favorable effect on selected serum lipids. The following changes appeared: decrease of total lipid level, total cholesterol level, cholesterol content of beta and prebeta-lipoproteins levels, free fatty acid level and the favorable changes in the composition of fatty acid in total lipid and selected lipid fractions in the serum. Food enrichment with E.F.A. led to rise the level of linoleic acid and total E.F.A. level and to fall the level of saturated fatty acids. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids changes favorably both in total serum lipids and in different lipid fraction...

Three cases of adult males with spastic paraparesis and adrenal insufficiency are reported. The adrenal insufficiency is primary and in one case associated with Leydig cell insufficiency. Ultrastructural examination of peripheral nerve revealed abnormal cytoplasmic inclusions in Schwann cells. A decrease in the percentage of linoleate to total fatty acids was found in the sera. A child with adrenoleucodystrophy and an adult with adreno myeloneuropathy were observed in the same family. It allows adrenomyeloneuropathy to be considered as an adult form of adrenoleucodystrophy.