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Unit Code 82426:
Fatty Acid Profile, Essential (C12-C22), Serum

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Useful For

Evaluates deficiency of essential and other nutritionally beneficial

fatty acids

 

Treatment of EFAD, depends on the cause of the disorder and

may include nutritional supplementation of essential fatty acids,

linoleic acid (C18:2w6) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3w3).

 

Clinical Information

This test evaluates the nutritional

intake and intestinal absorption of essential fatty acids. Essential

fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) is the result of poor nutrition caused by

an unbalanced diet or intestinal malabsorption of lipids. Deficiency of

fatty acids may also be caused by an impairment of endogenous

transformation among fatty acids, such as the conversion of linoleic

acid to arachidonic acid. The w-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid

(20:5w3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6w3) are also quantified and

can be used to evaluate a potential protective effect in cardiovascular

disease.

 

Treatment of EFAD depends on the cause of the disorder and may

include nutritional supplementation of essential fatty acids, linoleic

acid (C18:2e6) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3w3)

Reference Values

Lauric Acid, C12:0

<1 year:  6-190 umol/L

1-17 years:  5-80 umol/L

> or =18 years: 6-90 umol/L 

Myristic Acid, C14:0

<1 year:  30-320 umol/L

1-17 years:  40-290 umol/L

> or =18 years:  30-450 umol/L 

Hexadecenoic Acid, C16:1w9

<1 year:  21-69 umol/L

1-17 years:  24-82 umol/L

> or =18 years:  25-105 umol/L 

Palmitoleic Acid, C16:1w7

<1 year:  20-1,020 umol/L

1-17 years:  100-670 umol/L

> or =18 years:  110-1,130 umol/L 

Palmitic Acid, C16:0

<1 year:  720-3,120 umol/L

1-17 years:  960-3,460 umol/L

> or =18 years:  1,480-3,730 umol/L 

Gamma-Linolenic Acid, C18:3w6

<1 year:  6-110 umol/L

1-17 years:  9-130 umol/L

> or =18 years:  16-150 umol/L 

Alpha-Linolenic Acid, C18:3w3

<1 year:  10-190 umol/L

1-17 years:  20-120 umol/L

> or =18 years:  50-130 umol/L 

Linoleic Acid, C18:2w6

1-31 days:  350-2,660 umol/L

32 days-11 months:  1,000-3,300 umol/L

1-17 years:  1,600-3,500 umol/L

> or =18 years:  2,270-3,850 umol/L

Oleic Acid, C18:1w9

<1 year:  250-3,500 umol/L

1-17 years:  350-3,500 umol/L

> or =18 years:  650-3,500 umol/L 

Vaccenic Acid, C18:1w7

<1 year:  140-720 umol/L

1-17 years:  320-900 umol/L

> or =18 years:  280-740 umol/L

Stearic Acid, C18:0

<1 year:  270-1,140 umol/L

1-17 years:  280-1,170 umol/L

> or =18 years:  590-1,170 umol/L 

EPA, C20:5w3

<1 year:  2-60 umol/L

1-17 years:  8-90 umol/L

> or =18 years:  14-100 umol/L 

Arachidonic Acid, C20:4w6

<1 year:  110-1,110 umol/L

1-17 years:  350-1,030 umol/L

> or =18 years:  520-1,490 umol/L 

Mead Acid, C20:3w9

1-31 days:  8-60 umol/L

32 days-11 months:  3-24 umol/L

1-17 years:  7-30 umol/L

> or =18 years:  7-30 umol/L 

Homo-Gamma-Linolenic C20:3w6

<1 year:  30-170 umol/L

1-17 years:  60-220 umol/L

> or =18 years:  50-250 umol/L 

Arachidic Acid, C20:0

<1 year:  30-120 umol/L

1-17 years:  30-90 umol/L

> or =18 years:  50-90 umol/L 

DHA, C22:6w3    

<1 year:  10-220 umol/L

1-17 years:  30-160 umol/L

> or =18 years:  30-250 umol/L 

DPA, C22:5w6  

<1 year:  3-70 umol/L

1-17 years:  10-50 umol/L

> or =18 years:  10-70 umol/L 

DPA, C22:5w3  

<1 year:  6-110 umol/L

1-17 years:  30-270 umol/L

> or =18 years:  20-210 umol/L 

DTA, C22:4w6

<1 year:  2-50 umol/L

1-17 years:  10-40 umol/L

> or =18 years:  10-80 umol/L

Docosenoic Acid, C22:1

<1 year:  2-20 umol/L

1-17 years:  4-13 umol/L

> or =18 years:  4-13 umol/L 

Nervonic Acid, C24:1w9

<1 year:  30-150 umol/L

1-17 years:  50-130 umol/L

> or =18 years:  60-100 umol/L 

Triene/Tetraene Ratio

1-31 days:  0.017-0.083

32 days-17 years:  0.013-0.050

> or =18 years:  0.010-0.038  

Total Saturated Acid

<1 year:  1.2-4.6 mmol/L

1-17 years:  1.4-4.9 mmol/L

> or =18 years:  2.5-5.5 mmol/L 

Total Monounsaturated Acid

<1 year:  0.3-4.6 mmol/L

1-17 years:  0.5-4.4 mmol/L

> or =18 years:  1.3-5.8 mmol/L 

Total Polyunsaturated Acid

<1 year:  1.1-4.9 mmol/L

1-17 years:  1.7-5.3 mmol/L

> or =18 years:  3.2-5.8 mmol/L 

Total w3    

<1 year:  0.0-0.4 mmol/L

1-17 years:  0.1-0.5 mmol/L

> or =18 years:  0.2-0.5 mmol/L 

Total w6

<1 year:  0.9-4.4 mmol/L

1-17 years:  1.6-4.7 mmol/L

> or =18 years:  3.0-5.4 mmol/L 

Total Fatty Acids

<1 year:  3.3-14.0 mmol/L

1-17 years:  4.4-14.3 mmol/L

> or = 18 years:  7.3-16.8 mmol/L

Interpretation

Deficiency of the essential fatty acids may be measured directly.

The Holman index, also called the triene/tetraene ratio,

(eicosatrienoic [mead] acid [c20:3w9] / arachidonic acid [c20:4w6]),

is also commonly used to diagnose EFAD.

 

 

 

Cautions

For nutritional assessment, a 12-14 hour fast is required.

Clinical Reference

1.   Stellaard F, ten Brink HJ, Kok RM, et al: Stable isotope dilution analysis

      of very long chain fatty acids in plasma, urine, and amniotic fluid by

      electron capture negative ion mass fragmentography.

      Clin Chim Acta 1990;192:133-144

 

2.   ten Brink HJ, Stellaard F, van den Heuvel CM, et al: Pristanic acid

      and phytanic acid in plasma from patients with peroxisomal disorder:

      stable isotope dilution analysis with electron capture negative ion

      mass fragmentography. J of Lipid Res 1992;33:41-47

 

3.   Jeppesen PB, Chistensen MS, Hoy CE, Mortensen PB: Essential

      fatty acid deficiency in patients with severe fat malabsorption.

      Am J Clin Nutr 1997;65:837-843

 

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