Relationships between pulmonary function and plasma fatty acid levels in cystic fibrosis patients

Nineteen patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) were studied to determine whether plasma fatty acids correlated with severity of their lung disease as assessed by pulmonary function testing. Results were compared with 19 normal subjects of similar age and sex. Linoleic acid content of all lipid fractions was significantly lower in CF patients than controls including cholesterol ester fraction (CF 31%, control 50%, p < 0.001), triglyceride fraction (7.6 to 16.6%, p < 0.001), and phospholipid fraction (13.9 to 21.7%, p < 0.001). Mean 20:3 ω9/20:4ω6 ratio for CF patients was higher in all lipid classes and was suggestive of essential fatty acid deficiency. Correlations were found to exist between most pulmonary function parameters and fatty acids of plasma phospholipids but not any other lipid class. Positive correlations were found between al! ventilatory tests and total ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and also 22:5ω3 and 22:6ω3. There was no correlation between total saturated fatty acids, total monounsaturates, total ω6 fatty acids, or triene/tetraene ratios and pulmonary function. Positive correlations were found between pulmonary function parameters and certain ω6 polyunsaturates including 20:4 and 22:4 but not 18:2.