Studies on Plasma Non-esterified Fatty Acids

(2) Plasma non-esterified fatty acid of the patients with liver diseases

Abstract

The total and individual plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) of patients with liver diseases were analysed to elucidate the feature of abnormality of lipid metabolism in liver diseases, classified as acute hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and obstructive jaundice groups.
The plasma level of total NEFA of fasting normal subjects averaged 436.5±31.0 uEp/l. In patients with liver diseases it was significantly higher: 576.6±60.0uEq/l for acute hepatitis group, 647.5±39.7uEq/l for liver cirrhosis group, 751.2±108.0uEq/l for obstructive jaundice group.
Gaschromatographic analysis plasma NEFA revealed a significant increase of concentration of palmitic acid and oleic acid, especially in the groups of liver cirrbosis' and obstructive jaundice, but no significant change in concentration of linoleic acid was detected.
The level of plasma NEFA correlated with icteric indexes, but not with the Zn T T values and alkaline phosphatase activities.
The oral administration of glucose (50 g) in normal subjects lowered plasma NEFA to the minimum value at 60 min after which was restored to original level at 180 min after administration. But there was no significant difference in the pattern of fluctuation following the glucose intake between the control and liver diseases groups.
NEFA mobilization from adipose tissue resumed from the glucose administration test is nearly within normal limits in the patients with liver diseases and the increase in plasma NEFA in the patients with liver diseases may be ascribed to decreased hepatic uptake of plasma NEFA.
The current conclusion was supported by the report of Maezawa et. al.: the oral administration of ethanol lowered plasma NEFA level in normal subjects but not significantly in the patients with liver cirrhosis and the challenge with intravenous administration of ethanol in dogs lowered plasma NEFA level in artery and hepatic vein, but not significantly in CCl₄-poisoning dog.