PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Homa, S T AU - Belin, J AU - Smith, A D AU - Monro, J A AU - Zilkha, K J TI - Levels of linoleate and arachidonate in red blood cells of healthy individuals and patients with multiple sclerosis. AID - 10.1136/jnnp.43.2.106 DP - 1980 Feb 01 TA - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry PG - 106--110 VI - 43 IP - 2 4099 - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/43/2/106.short 4100 - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/43/2/106.full SO - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry1980 Feb 01; 43 AB - The major fatty acids were measured in total lipid extracts of red blood cells from 23 control subjects and 31 patients with multiple sclerosis. In the healthy control subjects an inverse correlation (r = -0.83) was found between the percentages of linoleate and arachidonate. In the patients such an inverse correlation was not found. The results suggest an abnormality in the red blood cells of patients with multiple sclerosis specifically with regard to the regulation of the relative amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, and this has implications for the possible treatment of multiple sclerosis with dietary supplements.