Lipid composition and biosynthesis of human omental tissue.

Two groups of five males each were selected for total lipid analyses of their omental tissue. One of these groups had been subjected to a severe caloric restriction and had undergone total weight reduction of about 20%. The other group served as control. Both of these groups of patients required elective surgical procedures during which it was possible to obtain small samples of omental tissue, adipose pad, and/or mesenteric tissue. Total lipid analyses were performed on all of the materials. A distinctive positional distribution of the acyl groups was maintained in the triglycerides of omental tissue for all the patients regardless of dietary state. Patients under caloric restriction showed a reduction in their total triglyceride content, a reduction in their content of unsaturated fatty acyl groups, and a relative increase in phospholipid content. The de novo lipid biosynthetic capacity of omental tissues, as determined by 1-[14C]-acetate incorporation, showed an inverse proportionality to the lipid content of the samples. Omental tissue is biosynthetically a very versatile material capable of yielding rapidly many types of fatty acids. This ability, among others, could account for the usefulness of omental tissue as a supporting base in many types of restorative surgery.