ABSTRACT
Analytical methods used to investigate the metabolism of γ-linolenic acid (18:3n-6, GLA) to n-6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) have thus far been limited primarily to measurement by gas chromatography (GC) of changes in fatty acid composition of tissues or blood, or to tracing of the metabolism of carbon-14 (14C)-labeled GLA. The GC method has some applications in human studies, but they are largely restricted to analysis of blood samples that can be difficult to obtain in infants and are infrequently collected at multiple time points to determine peak changes in utilization. Radio tracer studies in humans are becoming ethically unacceptable, especially when stable isotope analogues are potentially available.
