Table 3 Plasma fatty acids (expressed as % total fatty acids)

Satured fatty acids (SFA)

16:0 (Palmitic acid)

22.5 ± 0.9

29.8 ± 1.1^a,b

22.9 ± 0.5

24.1 ± 0.3

18:0 (Stearic acid)

15.1 ± 0.5

8.3 ± 0.4^a,b

18.7 ± 0.03^a

19.5 ± 0.08^a

Total SFA

37.6 ± 0.8

38.1 ± 0.2

41.6 ± 0.5^a

43.6 ± 0.3^a

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)

16:1 n-7 (Palmitoleic acid)

1.0 ± 0.3

3.0 ± 0.2^a,b

0.7 ± 0.06^a

0.34 ± 0.03^a,c

18:1 n-9 (Oleic acid)

27.7 ± 1.8

21.0 ± 0.8^a

14.8 ± 0.2^a

10.6 ± 0.2^a,c

Total MUFA 

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)

28.7 ± 0.1

24.0 ± 0.5

15.5 ± 0.2^a

11 ± 0.2^a,c

18:3 n-3 (Linolenic acid)

1 ± 0.14

1.8 ± 0.3

0.7 ± 0.03^a

0.3 ± 0.002^a,c

22:6 n-3 (Docosahexaenoic acid)

1.97 ± 0.07

2.1 ± 0.3

Not-detected

Not-detected

20:5 n-3 (Eicosapentaenoic acid)

0.24 ± 0.02

0.3 ± 0.05

Not-detected

Not-detected

18:2 n-6 (Linoleic acid)

26.4 ± 1.0

25.5 ± 2.0

34 ± 0.8^a

37.4 ± 0.6^a,c

20:4 n-6 (Arachidonic acid)

3.0 ± 0.2

6.3 ± 0.3^a,b

4.8 ± 0.4

4.7 ± 0.4

Total PUFA

32.4 ± 0.5

36.0 ± 0.5

34.8 ± 0.8

42.3 ± 0.6^a,c

n-6/n-3 ratio

9.2 ± 1.1

7.6 ± 0.6

48.8 ± 0.8^a

140 ± 0.6^a,c

SCD-16

0.044 ± 0.01

0.1 ± 0.01^a,b

0.03 ± 0.005

0.014 ± 0.002^a

SCD-18

1.83 ± 0.02

2.53 ± 0.02^a,b

0.79 ± 0.01^a

0.54 ± 0.03^a,c