Main fatty acid residues of the erythrocyte membrane phospholipids of lean healthy controls and morbidly obese subjects.

<p>Main fatty acid residues of the erythrocyte membrane phospholipids of lean healthy controls and morbidly obese subjects.</p

Biosynthetic pathways for the formation of three positional isomers of the hexadecenoic fatty acid family (C16 MUFA).

<p>The formation of 9<i>cis</i>-16:1 (palmitoleic acid) occurs from palmitic acid via delta-9 desaturase (SCD-16) and from vaccenic acid via beta-oxidation. The formation of 6<i>cis</i>-16:1 (sapienic acid) occurs from palmitic acid (via delta-6 desaturase, D6D) and the formation of 7<i>cis</i>-16:1 occurs from oleic acid via beta oxidation. Oleic acid is obtained from stearic acid (18:0) via delta-9 desaturase (SCD-18).</p

Enzymatic indexes obtained from the quantities of the corresponding fatty acids in molar percentages (%mol) presented in S2 and S4 Tables.

<p>Enzymatic indexes obtained from the quantities of the corresponding fatty acids in molar percentages (%mol) presented in S2 and S4 Tables.</p

Main fatty acid residues of plasma cholesteryl esters in lean healthy controls and morbidly obese subjects.

<p>Main fatty acid residues of plasma cholesteryl esters in lean healthy controls and morbidly obese subjects.</p

Comparison of the sapienic and palmitoleic acid contents (μmol/mL) in RBC membrane PL (A) and plasma CE (B).

<p>Significant increases of palmitoleic and sapienic acids are found in PL of morbidly obese subjects compared to controls (both with p < 0.0001), whereas sapienic acid is diminished in CE of morbidly obese subjects (with p < 0.0001), with an opposite trend compared to palmitoleic acid (p ≤ 0.05). Values and error bars (SEM) are reported in Tables <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152378#pone.0152378.t001" target="_blank">1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152378#pone.0152378.t002" target="_blank">2</a>.</p