ABSTRACT
The amount of gases evolved correlated well with the disappearance of linolenic, and arachidonic fatty acids and the formation of conjugated dienes. The decrease in fatty acids in the group deficient in dietary antioxidants may reflect the result of peroxidative changes due to a lack of protection by the antioxidants. Therefore, measurement of hydrocarbon gases has been a useful index for estimating the extent of lipid peroxidation during aging as well as in experimental conditions related to the effects of dietary antioxidants. Since membrane fatty acids are the primary target for lipid peroxidation, it is obvious that dietary deficiencies, drugs, and compounds which may exert oxidative or antioxidative effects on the membrane lipids may also affect the normal membrane functions. The decrease in norepinephrine uptake activity in the vitamin E and selenium deficient group suggests that some synaptosomal membrane functions may also be altered due to the dietary treatments.
