Cardiovascular disease Fatty acids

Unfortunately, excess consumption of fatty foods has been correlated with serious human disease conditions. Effects on cardiovascular disease (95), cancer (96), and function of the immune system (97) have been shown. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the effects of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids on semm cholesterol and more recently high density Hpoprotein (HDL) and low density Hpoprotein... 

Insulin resistance occurs when the normal response to a given amount of insulin is reduced. Resistance of liver to the effects of insulin results in inadequate suppression of hepatic glucose production insulin resistance of skeletal muscle reduces the amount of glucose taken out of the circulation into skeletal muscle for storage and insulin resistance of adipose tissue results in impaired suppression of lipolysis and increased levels of free fatty acids. Therefore, insulin resistance is associated with a cluster of metabolic abnormalities including elevated blood glucose levels, abnormal blood lipid profile (dyslipidemia), hypertension, and increased expression of inflammatory markers (inflammation). Insulin resistance and this cluster of metabolic abnormalities is strongly associated with obesity, predominantly abdominal (visceral) obesity, and physical inactivity and increased risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and renal disease, as well as some forms of cancer. In addition to obesity, other situations in which insulin resistance occurs includes... 

Connor WE The beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids cardiovascular disease and neurodevelopment. Curr Opin Lipidol 1997 8 1. 

Fatty acids play an important role as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, that is by forming plaques within the arteria. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are seen as the most important risk factor. In the clinical chemistry laboratory, both LDLs and HDLs (high density lipids, considered as an anti-atherogenic factor) are determined. 

Increased awareness by consumers of the link between an increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids and a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, has led to an increased demand for products with a higher content of these... 

Interest in the health effects of anthocyanins was piqued by the French paradox in which the mortality from cardiovascular disease was lower than that predicted from the intake of dietary saturated fatty acids. The beneficial effects were greater in association with alcohol taken in the form of wine suggesting that there may be a protective effect of other components of wine. Needless to say the wine industry was pleased with this research. 

Arachidonic acid (C20 4 n-6) is the precursor for the synthesis of prostaglandin molecules (Section 4.4.4), which have a wide range of biochemical effects on for example, the perception of pain, inflammation, blood clotting and smooth muscle contraction. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22 6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20 5) are both n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which have been shown to have significantly beneficial effects on intellectual development and inflammatory conditions such as asthma and cardiovascular disease. 

Whole grains, beans, vegetables all containing high content of fibre Cardiovascular disease, cancer Fibre has two effects (i) lowered cholesterol levels (ii) increased production of volatile fatty acids by microorganisms in colon... 

Vitamin E in the diet is known to provide valuable antioxidant properties for humans, preventing the destruction of cellular materials, e.g. unsaturated fatty acids in biological membranes, and also helping to prevent heart disease. Other materials are similarly known to have beneficial antioxidant properties, and we are encouraged to incorporate sufficient levels of antioxidant-rich foods into our diets to minimize the risks of cardiovascular disease, cell degradation, and cancer. 

Hunter, J. E., Zhang, J., and Kris-Etherton, P. M. (2009). Cardiovascular disease risk of dietary stearic acid compared with trans, other saturated, and unsaturated fatty acids A systematic review. Am.. Clin. Nutr. 91(1), 46-63. 

Harris, W. S. (2007). Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease A case for omega-3 index as a new risk factor. Pharmacol. Res. 55, 217-223. 

Fish oils that contain high amounts of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eiocosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20 5, n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 6, n-3) have been suggested to decrease the risk of development of cardiovascular disease. Freshwater fish oil carp oil are not rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but tuna oil is rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA and DHA Table (1) . 

Balk, E.M., Lichtenstein, A.H., Chung, M., Kupelnick, B., Chew, P., Lau, J. (2006). Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum markers of cardiovascular disease risk a systematic review. Atherosclerosis, 189, 19-30. 

Polyunsaturated fatty acids Triacylglycerols containing primarily fatty acids with more than one double-bond are referred to as polyunsaturated fats. The effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on cardiovascular disease is influenced by the location of the double bonds within the molecule. 

Consumption of fats containing n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids lowers plasma LDLs, but HDLs, which protect against coronary heart disease, are also lowered. Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fats have little effect on plasma HDL or LDL levels, but they suppress cardiac arrhythmias and reduce serum triacylglycerols, decrease the tendency to thrombosis, and substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality. 

Chardigny, J. M., Destaillats, F., Malpuech-Brugere, C., Moulin, J., Bauman, D. E., Lock, A. L., Barbano, D. M., Mensink, R. P., Bezelgues, J. B., Chaumont, P., Combe, N., Cristiani, I., et al. (2008). Do trans fatty acids from industrially produced sources and from natural sources have the same effect on cardiovascular disease risk factors in healthy subjects Results of the trans Fatty Acids Collaboration (TRANSFACT) study. Am. ]. Clin. Nutr. 87, 558-566. 

Krachler, B., Norberg, M., Eriksson, J., Hallmans, G., Johansson, I., Vessby, B., Weinehall, L., and Lindahl, B. (2008). Fatty acid profile of erythrocyte membrane Preceding development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases 18, 503-510. 

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