The fats in the body are made up of several fatty acids, one of which is called phytanic acid. It comes from the green pigment of plants called chlorophyll from which is derived phytol. Phytol is not easily absorbed by man, carnivores and omnivores. However many herbivores which live exclusively on green plants are able to utilise phytol. Cows and sheep, for example, have specially adapted digestive systems which can utilise phytol which is turned into phytanic acid and as a fatty acid is incorporated into the fat and milk of these animals.
Man is able to absorb phytanic acid from milk and the fat of cows and sheep.
Phytanic acid requires a special enzyme in the body for its breakdown and the release of energy and this is done easily by the majority of human beings. Small amounts of phytanic acid in the body are harmless but when the level rises it becomes a poison. It is not known exactly how phytanic acid poisons the body although the problems that occur in Refsum s Disease are well recognised. These problems can be divided into three groups. These are abnormalities present at birth.