SERUM LONG CHAIN FATTY ACIDS IN THE PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Abstract

Concentration of serum long chain fatty acids was analysed in 13 patients with ulcerative colitis and 12 patients with Crohn's disease, using gas-chromatography. In the patients with ulcerative colitis, every fraction of fatty acid and total fatty acid was not different from that of normal controls. In the patients with Crohn's disease, concentration of palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic acids and total fatty acid were decreased significantly. Concentration of serum linoleic acid was inversely correlated to the value of Crohn's Disease Activity Index with statistical significance (p<0.01). Decrease of serum long chain fatty acids was considered due to derease of food intake containing these fatty acids, disturbance of bile acid metabolism secondary to resection or lesion of the terminal ileum. Concentration of long chain fatty acids, especially that of essential fatty acids was found to be one of the important indices evaluating clinical and nutritional status of Crohn's disease.