Esterified Serum Fatty Acids in Subjects Eating High and Low Cholesterol Diets

In this study the esterified serum fatty acids levels were compared in two groups of subjects, the poor East Africans and New Yorkers. Similar studies have previously shown differences in the incidence of coronary arteriosclerosis, in addition to differences in serum cholesterol levels and individual fatty acid contents of adipose tissue. To provide additional information, a group of upper class East Africans having a socioeconomic status and a total fat and cholesterol intake similar to that of New Yorkers was studied, although little is known about the incidence of coronary arteriosclerosis in these subjects. Total serum cholesterol levels were much higher in New Yorkers than in poor East Africans, confirming previous findings. The relative percentage of linoleates, especially cholesterol linoleate, and of total polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher in the serum of New Yorkers than in poor East Africans. The serum cholesterol values of the upper class East African group were more similar to those in New Yorkers than in poor East Africans. Of interest, was the finding of difference in serum fatty acid patterns (notably, a lower linoleic acid level) between upper class East Africans and New Yorkers, despite the similarity of serum cholesterol levels in the two groups.