Comparison of Abdominal Adipose Tissue Fatty Acids Composition in Chronic Viral Hepatitis C Patients with Hepatic Cirrhosis and Healthy Individuals: A Preliminary Study

Introduction. In this article we present results of abdominal adipose tissue fatty acids composition of chronic viral hepati­tis C patients with hepatic cirrhosis and healthy controls.

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate abdominal adipose tissue fatty acids composition in chronic viral hepatitis C patients with hepatic cirrho­sis and to compare it with healthy con­trols.

Material and methods. We have studied abdominal adipose tissue fatty acids composition of 4 chronic viral hepa­titis C patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and compared the results with abdomi - nal adipose tissue fatty acids composition of healthy controls. Fatty acids from ab­dominal peripheral adipose tissue were exiracted using Folch’s method [1]. Ob i tained fatty acids methyl esters were an­alyzed using method of gas chromatogra­phy.

Results. We have found, that in adi­pose tissue of chronic viral hepatitis C pa­tients with hepatic cirrhosis total amount of saturated fatty acids is 33.0%, and the amount of main saturated palmitic acid 16:0 is 25.76%. In adipose tissue of patients the level of saturated arachidic acid 20:0 (p<0.001) is reduced as compared to healthy controls. In adi - pose tissue of chronic viral hepatitis C pa­tients with hepatic cirrhosis total amount of monounsaturated fatty acids is 54.21%, and the amount of main monounsaturated oleic acid 18:1 w9 is 46.28%. In adipose tissue of patients the level of monounsaturated nervonic acid 24:1 ca9 (p<0.05) is reduced and the level of monounsaturated gondoic acid 20:1 w9 (p<0.001) is elevated as compared to healthy controls. The total amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids is 12.79%. The main polyunsaturated fatty acid is linoleic acid 18:2 w6 (10.95%). In adipose tissue of chronic viral hepatitis C pa­tients with hepatic cirrhosis is 85% less of eikozapentanoic acid (p<0.001) and 55% less of total w3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (p<0.01) as compared with healthy controls.

Conclusions. We have found, that in adipose tissue of chronic viral hepatitis C patients with hepatic cirrhosis the levels of saturated arachidic acid 20:0 (p<0.001) and monounsaturated nervonic acid 24:1 w9 (p<0.05) are reduced, the level of monounsaturated gondoic acid 20:1 w9 (p<0.001) is elevated, also the levels of eikozapentanoic acid (p<0.001) and total w3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are re­duced (p<0.01) as compared with healthy controls.

Keywords: fatty acids, chronic viral hep­atitis C, hepatic cirrhosis.