THE ABSORPTION OF DILINOLEOYL-PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE AFTER ORAL-ADMINISTRATION

Essential(R) and Lipostabil(R) contain ''essential'' phospholipids from the soybean, mainly 1,2-dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (GAS 998-06-1, DLPC) which is considered as the main active ingredient. A single oral dose of d(15)-DLPC loaded with deuterium 9 times in the choline and 6 times in the linoleic acid Of the 1-position was given to volunteers Sera from 11 blood samples taken within 48 h after application were examined by means of mass spectrometry with regard to d(9)-choline and d(6)-linoleic acid in the 1- and 2-position of serum phosphatidylcholines (PC) as well as in the serum triglycerides. d(9)-choline, i.e. the total of d(15)-PC and d(9)-PC, showed maximum values of 5.6 % of the total serum PC concentration. Normally, about 1.3 % of PC in the human serum is DLPC. Serum 1-linoleoyl-PC was increased by 32-40 % after oral application of d(15)-DLPC. A minor uptake of d(6)-linoleic acid into the 2-position of serum PC, which is rich in linoleic acid, and into the serum triglycerides was observed with peak values of 2.3 % and 6.1 %, resp. The uptake of polyunsaturated PC species like DLPC and 1-linoleoyl-PC into the liver after oi al application of drugs containing such species in high amounts like ''essential'' phospholipids with about 50 % of DLPC let expect therapeutic effects on membranes into which this special species is incorporated.