Influence of dietary linoleic acid and trans fatty acids on the fatty acid profile of cardiolipins in rats.

Cardiolipins (CL) have unique fatty acid profiles with generally high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, primarily 18:2n-6, and low levels of saturated fatty acids. In order to study the effect of dietary fatty acid isomers on the fatty acid composition of cardiolipins, rats were fed partially hydrogenated marine oils (HMO), rich in 16:1, 18:1, 20:1, and 22:1 isomeric fatty acids, supplemented with linoleic acid at levels ranging from 1.9% to 14.5% of total fat. Although the dietary fats contained 33% trans fatty acids, the levels of trans fatty acids in CL were below 2.5% in all organs. The fatty acid profiles of cardiolipins of liver, heart, kidney and testes showed different responses to dietary linoleic acid level. In liver, the contents of 18:2 reflected the dietary levels. In heart and kidney, the levels of 18:2 also paralleled increasing dietary levels, but in all groups fed HMO, levels of 18:2 were considerably higher than in the reference group fed palm oil. In testes, the 18:2 levels were unaffected by the dietary level of 18:2 and HMO.