American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 22, 594-605, Copyright © 1969 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Studies on Fatty Acid Composition of Adipose Tissue and Blood Lipids of Polynesians

¹ From the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Food Chemistry Division, Box 8021, Wellington, New Zealand

Dietary fat was fed at the level of approximately 40% of the total calories and its effect on tile fatty acid composition of the depot and serum lipids of two groups of Polynesians has been studied. In the first group (Pukapukans) the dietary fat was mainly coconut oil, rich in lauric and myristic acids, whereas in the second group (Maoris) the dietary fat consisted largely of ruminant fat.

The adipose tissue of Pukapukans contained elevated contents of lauric (ca. 11%) and of myristic (ca. 15%) acids characteristic of coconut oil. The adipose tissue of the New Zealanders, including Maoris and Europeans, was similar in fatty acid composition and comparable with that recorded by other workers for Americans. The intake of ruminant fat was reflected in these groups by the presence of branched-chain fatty acids characteristic of the dietary fat.

The adipose tissue of all groups examined contained less linoleic acid (Ca. 2-3%) than did the adipose tissue of Americans (ca. 10%).

The serum lipid fatty acids of all groups examined, however, contained about 15% linoleic acid and this value corresponded to that recorded for Americans. The intake of coconut oil did not elevate the lauric and myristic acid contents of the serum lipids of the Pukapukans but resulted in highly elevated values (up to 38%) for palmitic acid.

Exceptionally high values of up to 21.6% for stearic acid in the serum lipids of Maoris were noted.

The high intake of coconut oil by the Pukapukans was associated with low levels of serum cholesterol and a low incidence of atherosclerosis.