Effects of anti-convulsants on fatty acid metabolism in human serum.

The effects of diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital on lipids metabolism were studied by quantification of lipids in human serum with GC-MS. The ratios of palmitic acid to stearic, oleic and linoleic acids decreased in patients on diphenylhydantoin therapy. Increases of free palmitic, stearic and oleic acids concentrations as well as higher cholesterol ester levels were observed in patients receiving either diphenylhydantoin or phenobarbital. With respect to fatty acids composition of cholesterol esters and phosphatidyl-choline, higher concentrations of palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were observed in patients on diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital therapy. Although the concentration of palmitic acid in serum phosphatidylcholine remained the same for all groups, a marked decrease in stearic, oleic and linoleic acids concentrations in serum phosphatidylcholine was observed in diphenylhydantoin treated group, and oleic acid in phenobarbital treated group. These results suggested the relationship to lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity by these drugs.