Polyunsaturated fatty acids: Biochemical, nutritional and epigenetic properties

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2004-08, Vol.23 (4), p.281-302
• Main Authors: Benatti, P, Peluso, G, Nicolai, R, Calvani, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AA = arachidonic acid; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Animals; arthritis; Biological and medical sciences; blood lipids; BMD = bone mineral density; bone formation; brain function; cardiovascular diseases; carnitine; Chronic Disease; chronic diseases; COX = cyclooxigenase; DGLA = di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid; DHA = docosahexaenoic acid; diabetes mellitus; dietary fat; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; dietary nutrient sources; disease prevention; EFA = essential fatty acids; EGF = epithelial growth factor; eicosanoid metabolism; EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid; essential fatty acids; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; HETE = hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid; HNF = hepatic nuclear factor; HPETE = hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid; human health; human physiology; Humans; IFN = interferon; IGF = insulin-like growth factor; IL = interleukin; inflammation; LA = linoleic acid; lipid metabolism; Lipids; LNA = alpha-linolenic acid; LOX = lipooxygenase; LT = leukotriene; LXR = liver X receptors; neoplasms; NF-kB = nuclear factor kB; NSAIDs = nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; nutrition; Nutritional Status; omega-3 fatty acids; omega-6 fatty acids; Other biological molecules; PBMC = peripheral blood mononuclear cells; PGE = prostaglandin; PGI = prostacyclin; PIF = proteolysis-inducing factor; PLA2 = phospholipase A; polyunsaturated fatty acids; PPAR = peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; PUFA = polyunsaturated fatty acids; risk factors; RXR = retinoid X receptors; SREBP = sterol regulatory element-binding protein; TGF = transforming growth factor; TNF = tumor necrosis factor; TR = thyroid hormone receptor; Transcription, Genetic; TX = thromboxane
• ISSN: 0731-5724; 1541-1087
• DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2004.10719371

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have effects on diverse physiological processes impacting normal health and chronic diseases, such as the regulation of plasma lipid levels, cardiovascular and immune function, insulin action and neuronal development and visual function. Ingestion of PUFA will lead to their distribution to virtually every cell in the body with effects on membrane composition and function, eicosanoid synthesis, cellular signaling and regulation of gene expression. Cell specific lipid metabolism, as well as the expression of fatty acid-regulated transcription factors, likely play an important role in determining how cells respond to changes in PUFA composition. This review will focus on recent advances on the essentiality of these molecules and on their interplay in cell physiology, leading to new perspective in different therapeutic fields