title: Linoleic acid and the pathogenesis of obesity.
abstract: The modern Western diet has been consumed in developed English speaking countries for the last 50 years, and is now gradually being adopted in Eastern and developing countries. These nutrition transitions are typified by an increased intake of high linoleic acid (LA) plant oils, due to their abundance and low price, resulting in an increase in the PUFA n-6:n-3 ratio. This increase in LA above what is estimated to be required is hypothesised to be implicated in the increased rates of obesity and other associated non-communicable diseases which occur following a transition to a modern Westernised diet. LA can be converted to the metabolically active arachidonic acid, which has roles in inducing inflammation and adipogenesis, and endocannabinoid system regulation. This review aims to address the possible implications of excessive LA and its metabolites in the pathogenesis of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chronic Disease, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia.
authors.forename: Shaan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Naughton
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chronic Disease, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia; Florey Neuroscience Institutes, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mathai
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Deanne H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hryciw
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chronic Disease, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia. Electronic address: andrew.mcainch@vu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McAinch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D019787:Linoleic Acid
keywords: Endocannabinoids; Inflammation; Linoleic acid; Nutrition transition; Obesity