Abstract
Plasma and RBC phospholipids were studied twice in six children on long term cyclic total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (mean 15 months): First on fat free TPN and following 5–8 months (x = 7) of fat infusion (1.5–2 g/kg/day); cyclic TPN does not alleviate the development of essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in RBC as soon as the 4th month of fat free TPN. In response to fat infusion n-6 series FA improved in both tissues. However 20:4 n-6 reached normal levels only in plasma, while 18:2 n-6 accumulated in RBC. The mechanism of such a discrepancy remains speculative. These results point out the poor value of plasma levels to assess the body EFA status and the need of separate biochemical and biological studies of each target organ of EFA.
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