Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue in Ethiopian immigrants: A prospective study during their first year in Israel

We measured the subcutaneous adipose tissue fatty acid composition in 22 male Ethiopian Jews, aged 17-65, shortly after their immigration to Israel. These subjects showed a concentration of linoleic acid (17.8%), which was relatively low compared with Israeli levels, and a high concentration of palmitic acid (28.5%). The linoleic/saturated (P/S) ratio was 0.52. After 5 months, a repeat measurement indicated increases of the linoleic acid content and of the P/S ratio to 20.1% and 0.62, respectively (P < 0.05). In another sample from the same immigrant group, levels after 1 year in Israel were 20.9% and 25.1% for linoleic and palmitic acid, respectively, and the P/S ratio was 0.67. These results differed significantly (P < 0.02) from those obtained in the first sample after immigration. Apart from decreasing plasma triglyceride levels, no pattern of lipid changes was discernible in our limited samples. Changes in subcutaneous fatty acid composition reflect changes in diet over months, suggesting a decreased carbohydrate intake and in increased fat intake. It remains to be seen whether changing fatty acid composition in conjunction with changes in blood lipid or other factors, over a prolonged period of time, will affect the cardiovascular risk in the immigrants.