title: Update on lipids and mitochondrial function:  impact of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent evidence has linked n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation with dramatic alterations of mitochondrial phospholipid membranes and favorable changes in mitochondrial function. In the present review, we examine the novel effects of n-3 PUFA on mitochondria, with an emphasis on cardiac mitochondrial phospholipids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is growing evidence that dietary n-3 PUFA, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has profound effects on mitochondrial membrane phospholipid composition and mitochondrial function. Supplementation with n-3 PUFA increases membrane phospholipid DHA and depletes arachidonic acid, and can increase cardiolipin, a tetra-acyl phospholipid that is unique to mitochondrial and essential for optimal mitochondrial function. Recent studies show that supplementation with DHA decreases propensity for cardiac mitochondria to undergo permeability transition, a catastrophic event often leading to cell death. This finding provides a potential mechanism for the cardioprotective effect of DHA. Interestingly, other n-3 PUFAs that modify membrane composition to a lesser extent have substantially less of an effect on mitochondria and do not appear to directly protect the heart.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current data support a role for n-3 PUFA supplementation, particularly DHA, on mitochondria that are strongly associated with changes in mitochondrial phospholipid composition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. wstanley@medicine.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Ramzi J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Khairallah
authors.forename: Erinne R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Dabkowski
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000737:chemistry; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002308:Cardiolipins; D004041:Dietary Fats; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid