The effect of different fat supplemented diets on the erythrocyte ghosts and plasma lipid composition of geriatric subjects.

The responses of the lipid composition of erythrocyte ghosts and plasma phospholipid fatty acids of 20 female donors, aged older than 70 years, to different margarine and butter supplemented diets were investigated. On a low level of daily caloric intake (1900 kcal) there were no changes in phospholipid and cholesterol content of the red cell membranes, but statistically significant changes were found in erythrocyte and plasma phospholipid fatty acid patterns. These results demonstrate the influence of the fatty acid composition of the dietary fats with special reference to saturated, trans-isomeric monoene, and polyunsaturated acids.