This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Vincent A. Ziboh, PhD; Robert S. Chapkin, PhD

Arch Dermatol. 1987;123(12):1686a-1690.

Abstract
• Deficiency of essential fatty acid (EFA) containing linoleic acid (18:2n-6) in humans or animals induces morphologic changes characterized by severe scaly dermatosis, extensive percutaneous water loss, and hyperproliferation of the epidermis. Microscopically, the epidermis is characterized by hyperkeratosis and acanthosis. The refeeding of safflower oil containing linoleic acid or primrose oil (containing linoleic acid [18:2n-6] and -linolenic acid [18:3n-6]) acids to EFA-deficient guinea pigs reverses the EFA-deficiency symptoms. In contrast, replacement of safflower oil with menhaden fish oil, (containing eicosapentaenoic acid [20:5n-3] and docosahexaenoic acid [22:6n-3]) did not reverse the symptoms of EFA deficiency. These results indicate: (1) that an understanding of the roles of vegetable or fish oil in skin must evolve from an understanding of the roles of each constituent n-6 or n-3 fatty acid, and (2) that the n-3 fatty acids may function to modulate the metabolism and function of the n-6 fatty acids in vivo.

(Arch Dermatol 1987;123:1686a-1690)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 16, 1987.

Read before the 36th Annual Symposium on the Biology of Skin ("Molecular Basis of Nutritional Dermatoses"), Salishan Lodge, Gleneden Beach, Ore, Oct 20, 1986.

Reprint requests to Department of Dermatology, TB192, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616 (Dr Ziboh).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?