AHMF: 98 Conference: McGregor

Alterations in plasma lipid composition in patients with CFS

Neil R. McGregor, R. Hugh Dunstan [1], Jennifer A. Watkins [1], Mark Donohoe [2], Timothy K. Roberts [1], Henry L. Butt [3], Raymond N. Murdoch [1], Warren G. Taylor [1].

Bioanalytical Research Group
Department of Biological Sciences
The University of Newcastle
Callaghan
NSW 2308
Australia.

1 Neurobiology Research Unit
Centre for Oral Health Research
University of Sydney
Westmead Hospital
Westmead
NSW 2084
Australia.

2 Environmental Medical Centre
Mosman
NSW 2088
Australia.

3 Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Hunter Area Pathology Service
John Hunter Hospital
Newcastle
NSW 2305
Australia.

A study of 60 CDC-defined CFS patients and 39 age- and sex-matched controls was undertaken to determine whether the plasma lipid composition of CFS patients was different to that measured in control subjects. There were no differences in the total concentrations of plasma lipids between the two groups. Multivariant analyses revealed that the total plasma concentrations were associated with cholesterol synthesis and lipogenesis in both CFS and control subjects. However, alterations in n-6 fatty acids were also a major factor in the CFS patients' regulation of plasma lipid concentration, but not in controls. The alterations in the n-6 fatty acids reflected the dysregulation of D6-desaturase activity and the supply of the prostaglandin precursor fatty acids. The changes observed in the CFS patients were consistent with a low-grade inflammation response. No evidence was found for changes in lipid homeostasis which reflected insulin resistance or changes in activities of D5-desaturase, elongase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase.

The increase in the plasma lipid concentrations in the CFS patients was associated with dysregulation of D6-desaturase activity and the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which were consistent with an inflammatory mediated event in the CFS patients