Plasma arachidonic acid and serum thromboxane B-2 concentrations in phenylketonuric children negatively correlate with dietary compliance

The study addresses the relationship of plasma arachidonic acid and thromboxane production with the dietary compliance in treated phenylketonuric patients, whose vegan-like dietary pattern makes them a useful model to evaluate the effects of the near-total avoidance of animal fats. Thirteen treated phenylketonuric children were compared with twelve healthy controls for arachidonic acid intake, plasma fatty acids and platelet thromboxane B-2 production, assessed as accumulation of this eicosanoid in serum. The calculated intake of arachidonic acid was lower in phenylketonurics than in controls and this was associated with lower levels in plasma lipids. Plasma arachidonic acid concentrations and serum thromboxane B-2 levels correlated with the last 12 months phenylalanine levels, taken as negative indicator of dietary compliance. A direct relationship between plasma arachidonic acid concentration and thromboxane B-2 production was observed only in phenylketonuric patients (r = 0.74, P = 0.01). While well-compliant PKU subjects have low arachidonic acid and thromboxane concentrations in plasma, the low compliance with animal food avoidance, evoking higher phenylalanine levels, results in elevation of both plasma arachidonic acid and serum thromboxane B-2. This gives support to the hypothesis that the consumption of animal fats may affect the production of arachidonic acid-derived platelet eicosanoids.