American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 20, 386-392, Copyright © 1967 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Biochemical Studies in Phrynoderma (Follicular Hyperkeratosis)

II. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels in Plasma and Erythrocytes of Patients Suffering from Phrynoderma

¹ From Nutrition Research Laboratories, Indian Council of Medical Research, Tarnaka, Hyderabad-7, India

Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels in plasma and erythrocytes of patients with phrynoderma and control children of the same age group were determined. Plasma of patients had significantly higher (P < 0.01) levels of trienoic acid and the ratio of trienoic to tetraenoic acids (a parameter of EFA nutritional status) in plasma was also significantly higher (P < 0.02) than that found in normal children.

Successful treatment of the condition either with safflower oil or with vitamins of B-complex group resulted in a decrease of plasma trienoic acid and in the ratio of trienoic to tetraenoic acids. Treatment with vitamins of the B-complex group brought about a decrease in the plasma dienoic and tetraenoic fatty acids also.

Treatment of phrynoderma brought about changes in PUFA levels in the erythrocytes similar to plasma PUFA. Administration of safflower oil or B-complex vitamins reduced the trienoic acid considerably. However, the decrease was not statistically significant.

These studies would indicate that phrynoderma is a manifestation of essential fatty acid deficiency and vitamins of the B-complex group play a significant role in the etiology and treatment of the condition. The relationship between metabolism of EFA and vitamins of the B-complex group is not clear at present and needs further investigation.