Relative fatty acid composition of serum lecithin in the normal puerperium.

21 women who had been followed regularly during their normal pregnancies were examined in the puerperium. The relative fatty acid composition of serum lecithin was analyzed by means of gas-liquid chromatography. Palmitic acid decreased and stearic acid increased, which indicates a shift to more pathway II-synthesized lecithin in the puerperal period. Linoleic acid increased and the longer polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased. These changes were slow as compared to the changes in the saturated fatty acids. No correlations were found between the saturated fatty acids and linoleic acid dominating the polyunsaturated fatty acids. The results indicate different incorporational ways into the lecithin molecule of these fatty acid groups. It is suggested that the deacylation-reacylation cycle is responsible for the high content of longer polyunsaturated fatty acids still 1 week after delivery. 6 weeks after delivery normal values were recorded. Breast-feeding did not seem to influence the fatty acid pattern of serum lecithin.