Unaltered brain membranes after prolonged intake of highly oxidizable long-chain fatty acids of the (n-3) series.

Feeding rats a diet enriched in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Menhaden oil) increased the content in eicosapentaenoic acid 20:5 n-3 of brain phospholipids. Conversely 22:4 n-6 was reduced. These changes were not associated with alterations in either vitamin E concentration or glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in cerebrum and cerebellum. No increase in peroxidative damage was found. Interestingly the major very-long-chain fatty acids (22:6 n-3 and 22:5 n-3) were not affected.