The effect of gammalinolenic acid on the subfractions of plasma high density lipoprotein of the rabbit.

The effect of dietary supplementation with evening primrose oil (containing 70% gammalinolenic acid) on the concentration of plasma lipids and lipoproteins of the New Zealand White rabbit was investigated. No significant changes were observed in the concentrations of plasma cholesterol or triglycerides during the treatment, although an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P < 0.01) was observed at 4 weeks of evening primrose oil intake and 2 weeks after withdrawal. However, when HDL subpopulations were resolved by gradient gel electrophoresis, major alterations were observed in the distribution of HDL subfractions. These included an increase in HDL2b (P < 0.001) and HDL3c (P < 0.001) and the appearance of very large particles of HDL. These findings suggest that supplementation of diets with n-6 fatty acids may be effective in the long-term prevention of atherosclerosis.