THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION IN SERUM FOLLOWING MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Studies of cholesterol ester, triglyceride, and phospholipid fatty acids have been made on the first and on the fifth day following an acute attack of myocardial infarction in ten men. Statistically significant decreases in total fatty acids of these fractions were observed. Gaschromatographic analysis of the fatty acid composition showed a decrease in linoleic acid percentages in all the three fractions, balanced by an increase in some saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acids. It is concluded that dietary factors, with a low fat diet due to nausea and anorexia, may play a role in the variations in serum lipid concentrations in this period of the myocardial infarction. However, hormonal factors affecting lipid metabolism may also be of importance. Studies are in progress to elucidate further the relative importance of the dietary factors. One additional conclusion which may be drawn from the variations in fatty acid composition observed is that studies of fatty acid pattern in acute myocardial infarction are not a reliable guide to the preinfarction dietary habits of the patients.