title: Saturated fatty acid-mediated inflammation and insulin resistance in adipose tissue: mechanisms of action and implications.
abstract: This review highlights the inflammatory and insulin-antagonizing effects of saturated fatty acids (SFA), which contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome. Mechanisms responsible for these unhealthy effects of SFA include: 1) accumulation of diacylglycerol and ceramide; 2) activation of nuclear factor-kappaB, protein kinase C-, and mitogen-activated protein kinases, and subsequent induction of inflammatory genes in white adipose tissue, immune cells, and myotubes; 3) decreased PPARgamma coactivator-1 alpha/beta activation and adiponectin production, which decreases the oxidation of glucose and fatty acids (FA); and 4) recruitment of immune cells like macrophages, neutrophils, and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells to WAT and muscle. Several studies have demonstrated potential health benefits of substituting SFA with unsaturated FA, particularly oleic acid and (n-3) FA. Thus, reducing consumption of foods rich in SFA and increasing consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and poultry, fish, low-fat dairy products, and oils containing oleic acid or (n-3) FA is likely to reduce the incidence of metabolic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA.
authors.forename: Arion
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Chia-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: LaPoint
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McIntosh
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids