Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition as a marker of dietary compliance in hyperlipidaemic subjects

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 1995-10, Vol.117 (2), p.245-252
• Main Authors: Tynan, Maria B., Nicholls, D.Paul, Maguire, Suzanne M., Steele, Ian C., McMaster, Cyril, Moore, Raymond, Trimble, Elisabeth R., Pearce, Jack
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Diet; Disorders of blood lipids. Hyperlipoproteinemia; Erythrocyte Membrane - chemistry; Erythrocytes; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Female; Humans; Hyperlipidaemia; Hyperlipidemias - blood; Hyperlipidemias - diet therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/0021-9150(95)05578-K

Dietary intervention is the first treatment step in the management of hyperlipidaemia, but there are few objective criteria of compliance. Whether intensive dietary intervention would produce a detectable change in erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition which could be used as a marker of compliance was examined in 31 new hyperlipidaemic patients. Over a 6 month period, body mass index fell from 29.0 to 26.9 kg/m 2 ( P < 0.001) and total cholesterol by 19% from 8.16 to 6.58 mmol/l ( P < 0.001). The energy derived from fat was reduced from 38.5% to 29.6% ( P < 0.001), and the ratio of dietary polyunsaturated to saturated (P:S) fatty acids in the diet increased from 0.45 to 0.66 ( P < 0.01). Small but significant changes were recorded in several red cell membrane fatty acids, and the P:S ratio increased from 0.91 to 1.13 ( P < 0.001). It would appear, therefore, that red cell membrane changes parallel dietary changes and hence are a potential marker for compliance with dietary changes.