Compartmental analyses of plasma n-3 essential fatty acids among male and female smokers and non-smokers

Robert J. Pawlosky, Joseph Hibbeln, and Norman Salem . Jr

Laboraotry of Metabolic Control, NIAAA/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892

Corresponding Author: bpawl{at}mail.nih.gov

The effect of cigarette smoking was studied in male and female subjects by fitting the concentration-time curves of the d5-labeled plasma fatty acids (FA) originating from a dose of d5-18:3n-3 to a compartmental model of n-3 FA metabolism. Methods: For 3 wks, female (smokers, n=5 non-smokers, n=5) and male (smokers, n=5; non-smokers, n=5) subjects subsisted on a beef-based diet. Beginning the 3rd wk, subjects received a dose of d5-18:3n-3 ethyl ester (1 g). Plasma FA were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry and the kinetic rate parameters were determined from the concentration-time curves for d5-18:3n-3, d5-20:5n-3, d5-22:5n-3, and d5-22:6n-3. Results: Women smokers had two-fold greater percent of dose in plasma (5.8 vs 2.9%; p<.01) and a higher fractional rate constant coefficient for formation of d5-22:5n-3 from d5-22:6n-3 (0.03 vs 0.01 hr-1; p<.01), compared to non–smokers. Male smokers had elevated total plasma n-3 FAs, more rapid turnover of 18:3n-3 (13.3 vs 4.3 mg d-1; p<.001) a disappearance rate of d5-20:5n-3 which was both delayed and slower (0.001 vs 0.012 hr-1; p<.05) and the percentage d5-20:5n-3 directed into formation of d5-22:5n-3 (99 vs 61%; p<.03) was greater compared to non-smokers. Conclusions: Smoking increased bioavailability of n-3 FAs from plasma, accelerated the fractional synthetic rates and heightened the percent formation of some long chain n-3 PUFAs in men and women.

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