Hepatic lipid profiles in miniature pigs after alcohol feeding

Changes in lipid profiles have not been reported for the known increases in total lipid content in livers of alcoholics. We have reported a lowering of the β-oxidative capacity of alcoholic livers, and therefore would expect a lower turnover of fatty acids in these livers, and thus a change in lipid profile. The percentage composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the liver of alcohol-fed miniature pigs versus the controls, as well as the function of distance from the main hepatic vein, have both been determined in this study involving the feeding of ethanol for one year. Livers of alcohol-fed miniature pigs contained more total lipids than those of controls. Results also indicated significantly higher percentages of free fatty acids and triglycerides in the alcohol-fed miniature pigs, and also an increase in percentage total neutral lipids. The effect of distance from the main blood source (and therefore oxygenation) gave a fatty acid profile that showed an increase in the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids with increasing distance from the right hepatic vein. This change in ratio was independent of alcohol feeding.