Mechanisms by Which Dietary Fatty Acids Regulate Mitochondrial Structure-Function in Health and Disease

• Published in: Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Md.), 2018-05, Vol.9 (3), p.247-262
• Main Authors: Sullivan, E Madison, Pennington, Edward Ross, Green, William D, Beck, Melinda A, Brown, David A, Shaikh, Saame Raza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; cancer; cardiac; cardiolipin; Diet; Dietary Fats - metabolism; Dietary Fats - pharmacology; fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Humans; inner mitochondrial membrane; Metabolic Diseases - metabolism; mitochondria; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondrial Membranes - drug effects; obesity; Review; type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 2161-8313; 2156-5376; 2156-5376
• DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmy007

Mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles within a cell. Furthermore, mitochondria have a role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and proper calcium concentrations, building critical components of hormones and other signaling molecules, and controlling apoptosis. Structurally, mitochondria are unique because they have 2 membranes that allow for compartmentalization. The composition and molecular organization of these membranes are crucial to the maintenance and function of mitochondria. In this review, we first present a general overview of mitochondrial membrane biochemistry and biophysics followed by the role of different dietary saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in modulating mitochondrial membrane structure-function. We focus extensively on long-chain n–3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids and their underlying mechanisms of action. Finally, we discuss implications of understanding molecular mechanisms by which dietary n–3 fatty acids target mitochondrial structure-function in metabolic diseases such as obesity, cardiac-ischemia reperfusion injury, obesity, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and select cancers.