[Age-related changes in fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membrane].

Taking into account the prerequisites existing in elderly people for disturbances in metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which are risk factors of cardiovascular pathology, we studied the content of separate fractions of fatty acids (FA) in erythrocyte membrane of practically healthy people aged over 60. Seventeen practically healthy subjects aged 60-74 were investigated. All of them have been under long-term observation at the Institute of gerontology, AMS of Ukraine. A thorough preliminary examination proved them to be free from any pathology which might affect the results of studying the lipid composition of erythrocyte membrane. Twenty healthy subjects aged 20-29 served as controls. The fractions of FA as well as HDL and LDL were determined in erythrocyte membrane. In elderly healthy people the results obtained have shown a statistically significant decrease in the content of unsaturated FA and PUFA in erythrocyte membrane. The level of PUSFA decreased due to both omega-6 and omega-3 fractions as well as at the expense of their precursors. However, the decrease in the level of omega-3 fraction was more pronounced. As evidenced by a decrease in the content of unsaturated FA and PUFA in lipoproteins of both high and low density, the disturbance of PUFA transport by lipoproteins is one of the mechanisms of the decrease in PUFA level in the erythrocyte membrane.