Effects of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on the tissue phospholipid fatty acid composition and the synthesis of eicosanoids in rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of dietary gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) on the tissue phospholipid fatty acid composition and the synthesis of eicosanoids in growing rats. The supplementation with different oils rich in GLA (borage oil, evening primrose oil, or Spirulina oil) and poor in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids or biomass of Spirulina results in a significant dose-related increase of GLA and dihomo-GLA in liver, erythrocyte, and aorta phospholipids in rats fed during 6 weeks different levels of GLA. The arachidonic acid (AA)/dihomo-GLA ratios decreased with increasing intake of dietary GLA, but the AA proportions remained stable. The dietary administration of GLA increased the in vitro production by the aorta of prostaglandin E1 derived from dihomo-GLA, but did not significantly influence the production of prostaglandin E2 derived from AA by the aorta and the thromboxane B2 level in serum.