ABSTRACT
Growing interest is accorded to polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs] 3, which are considered beneficial for health. To investigate the effect of sports on plasma lipids and fatty acids [FAs], especially 6 and 3 PUFAs and the 6/3 ratio. The study included 75 Tunisian male elite athletes, practicing team sport and 70 sedentary healthy men as controls. Plasma FAs profile was analyzed by gas chromatography. Comparison between groups was performed using a univariate GLM analysis, with adjustment on age, body mass and energy intake. Athletes showed lower triglycerides and saturated FAs [27.64% +/- 2.17% vs. 30.41% +/- 4.35%] and increased HDL cholesterol and monounsaturated FAs [21.19% +/- 2 44% vs. 19.12% +/- 3.03%]. However, there was no significant difference in total PUFAs, 6 and 3 families and 6/3 ratio [10.15% +/- 3.24% vs. 10.20% +/- 3.37%] between athletes and sedentary. Sport favorably modifies the profile of plasma FAs by increasing monounsaturated FAs at the expense of saturated FAs, but has no effect on total PUFAs, and 6 and 3 families. A diet rich in 3 PUFAs would lower the 6/3 ratio, in order to improve the health and probably the performance of athletes