Why do polyunsaturated fatty acids lower serum cholesterol?
Replacement of saturated by polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet may lower serum very low-density and low-density lipoprotein concentrations because the liver preferentially converts polyunsaturated fatty acids into ketone bodies instead of into very low-density lipoprotein triglycerides. Thus unlike saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids are transported to the tissues for oxidation without leaving a trail of lipoprotein remnants in the form of low-density lipoproteins.
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008954:Models, Biological
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D002784:Cholesterol