Analysis of Fatty Acid Composition of Human Serum Lipids in Relation to Age and Sex

To observe the relation of fatty acid composition of human serum lipids to age and sex. Serum was obtained from 140 screened normal adults divided into three groups according to their age, and measured with GC on myristic acid(C14:0),palmitic acid(C16:0),oleic acid(C18:1),linoleic acid(C18:2),arachidonic acid(C20:4). 1)Serum palmitic acid(C16:0) and linoleic acid(C18:2) levels were significantly higher for middle-aged persons than for the young and the old ones. Serum palmitic acid(C16:0) of the midlle-aged was significantly higher than that of the young, and arachidonic acid(C20:4)of the young was significantly higher than that of the old.2) The difference of three age groups stratified by sex was almost the same as that in the total.3) No significant difference was found between male and female in same age groups. [Conclusion] There was significant difference between ages for palmitic acid(C16:0),oleic acid(C18:1),linoleic acid(C18:2),arachidonic acid(C20:4) in normal adults.Serum palmitic acid(C16:0) and linoleic acid(C18:2) levels were significantly higher for middle-aged persons than for the young and the old ones. Serum palmitic acid(C16:0) of the midlle-aged was significantly higher than the young,and arachidonic acid(C20:4)of the young was significantly higher than the old.No significant difference between female and male was found for any serum fatty acid.