N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids regulate lipid metabolism through several inflammation mediators: mechanisms and implications for obesity prevention.
Obesity is a growing problem that threatens the health and welfare of a large proportion of the human population. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are dietary factors that have potential to facilitate reduction in body fat deposition and improve obesity-induced metabolic syndromes. The n-3 PUFA up-regulate several inflammation molecules including serum amyloid A (SAA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in hepatocytes and adipocytes. Actions of these inflammation mediators resemble those of n-3 PUFA in the modulation of many lipid metabolism-related genes. For instance, they both suppress expressions of perilipin, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to induce lipolysis and reduce lipogenesis. This review will connect these direct or indirect regulating pathways between n-3 PUFA, inflammation mediators, lipid metabolism-related genes and body fat reduction. A thorough knowledge of these regulatory mechanisms will lead us to better utilization of n-3 PUFA to reduce lipid deposition in the liver and other tissues, therefore presenting an opportunity for developing new strategies to treat obesity.
Department of Animal Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen C
CC
Tai
Shih T
ST
Ding
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018836:Inflammation Mediators