[The influence of so-called "diet" fats high in polyene acids on blood constituents, serum cholesterol and organ systems].

The Effect of Various Alimentary Fats, Especially "Diet" Fats With High Proportions of Polyene Acids on the Blood Count, Cholesterol Levels and Organ Systems: This paper describes our observations on the possible toxicity of highly unsaturated fatty acids on the cell systems of the red blood, the liver and kidney. At the same time the necessity of maintaining a normal level of cholesterol in the blood and a stable pool of saturated fatty acids in the serum is pointed out with reference to our own investigations. By means of a reference record histogram, the lower critical point of cholesterol level is verified. A correlation between the low cholesterol level, relatively low hemoglobin values and low erythrocyte count is substantiated., By means of a nutritional physiology study in patients with defined anemias and cholesterol deficit, an attempt was made to establish a causal connection between low cholesterol and anemia. Further, it could be shown that highly unsaturated fatty acids (polyene acids) of the C189:2 cis ("curved fats") type such as occur in diet margarines, thistle oil and other vegetable oils in high concentrations, can cause damage to cell membranes and the cell systems of the red blood, the liver and kidney by excessive ingestion in the food. Biochemical work on the present knowledge of the formation of lipofuscin (the "age pigment") by polymerization products from unsaturated fatty acids is referred to. In a controlled nutritional physiology trial in pigs the facts observed in human medicine were confirmed. So it is postulated that the curative pronouncements claimed by the bottlers of thistle oil and the manufactures of diet margarines are not valid. Taking the Codex Alimentarius of the FAO/WHO, which gives the acceptable daily dosage in mg/kg body weight as a guide, according to the present state of toxicological information, a maximum of 10 g unsaturated fatty acids of the C18:2 cis type can be consumed for a lifetime without suffering noticeable harm. This corresponds to a highly unsaturated fatty acids proportion of less than 8% in the daily diet.