Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 19, 585-590, Copyright © 1978 by Lipid Research, Inc.
On the quantitative importance of omega-oxidation of fatty acids
I Bjorkhem
The relative importance of omega-oxidation of fatty acids in livers of
starved rats was studied by determination of the ratio between 14C at C1
and at C2, C3, C4 in acetoacetate formed from [16-14C]palmitic acid in vivo
and in vitro and from [10(-14)C]decanoic acid in vitro. The results are
consistent with the possibility that at least a small fraction of the fatty
acids may be subject to primary omega-oxidation prior to beta-oxidation in
the ketotic state. The maximal figure for this pathway was calculated to be
of the magnitude 5--10%. The metabolic consequences of a pathway involving
primary omega-oxidation of fatty acids are discussed.