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membranes of cells.
After the cholesterol has carried its quota or arachidonic acid
in the phospholipid to the tissues which need it, it is freed again
to pick up another molecule and repeat the process, and so on over
and over again. It thus acts as the transport vehicle for fats.
It is thought that when linoleic acid is in short supply in the
diet, and hence arachidonic is in short supply for making phospholipids,
the body keeps calling out for more and more arachidoniccholesterol
ester to keep up the supply of arachidonic to the phospholipid.
The mechanism goes awry; more and more cholesterol is
manufactured but has no arachidonic to attach itself to. There is
evidence to show that the cholesterol attaches itself to other acids,
mainly the unsaturated ones like oleic acid found in olive oil.
These are non-essential fatty acids. The combinations with cholesterol
are insoluble. It is thought that these insoluble products
get deposited in those tissues which are lacking in blood capillaries
and lymphatics such as the skin, the inside of blood vessels,
the cornea, and the lens of the eye, giving the conditionsdiabetic
xanthoma (yellow cholesterol tumours in the skin), atheroma,
arcus senilis, and cataract. These conditions can be imitated in
rabbits by feeding with diets deficient in essential fatty acids.
It is known that in animals the essential fatty acids can protect
the body against coronary thrombosis, and it may be they have the
same effect in humans.
The Registrar General's figure for deaths from coronary thrombosis
keeps rising. The deaths from coronary thrombosis follow the
curve for consumption of fats in rich countries. Men suffer more
heavily from the deficiency than do women because they need 7 to
10 times more E. P. A. than women. We should try to ensure that we
get some E. F. A., vitamin E. and vitamin B6 every day.
A Remedy
After much searching and experimenting I have found a source
of supply of maize oil and soya oil with a good linoleic acid
content tested for me by the kindness of Dr.Bell and his staff at
the paint Research Station. Thus elderly people who come to the
clinic and show sign of atheroma are being told about this; are
given samples and can purchase it in the clinic. The instruction
is for the patient to take l fluid ounce of maize oil or soya oil
in a measure. This is emulsified with two heaped teaspoonfuls of
Complan which supplies a small amount of vitamins and minerals.
This mixture is quite palatable either alone, or flavoured with
orange, lemon, lime, blackcurrent or Horlicks. The vitamins can
be supplemented by juvel tablets which increase the vitamin B6
and E. I cannot do a controlled trial, but in some cases the blood
pressure has been reduced quite considerably and patients have
felt much better. The method can do no harm and may do considerable
good.
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