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Thromb Haemost 2000; 84(03): 420-423
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614038
Commentary
Schattauer GmbH

Folate Administration Increases n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Rat Plasma and Tissue Lipids

María-Luisa Pita
1   From Departamento de Bioquímica Médica y Biología Molecular, Spain
,
María-José Delgado
2   Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Animal, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 19 November 1999

Accepted after resubmission 17 April 2000

Publication Date:
14 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

It has been shown that folic acid deficiency can modify polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism and thus could contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases. We have studied the effect of folate administration on fatty acid composition of plasma, platelet, erythrocyte, intestinal and liver lipids. Two groups of rats were daily injected with either saline solution (control group) or 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (MTHF) solution (MTHF group) for 15 days. Changes induced by folate treatment on n-6 PUFA were not very significant. Linoleic acid only decreased in liver and intestinal phospholipids of MTHF rats whereas arachidonic acid was unaffected by folate administration. However, n-3 PUFA significantly increased in plasma lipid fractions and in platelet, erythrocyte and intestinal phospholipids. It is well known that n-3 PUFA show antithrombotic properties. Thus, the increase of n-3 PUFA observed after MTHF administration might contribute to the prevention of vascular disorders.

Key words

Folate - n-3 fatty acids
 

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