Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism

Graham C. Burdge

• Publisher: Academic Press and AOCS Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN:
  9780128112304
• eBook ISBN:
  9780128112311
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Biology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism explores a number of major roles of PUFA in the body, including its role as a component of cell membranes and how it provides substrates for the synthesis of lipid second messengers. Recent studies are unraveling the effect of interactions between diet and endocrine factors and genetic and epigenetic variation on the regulation of PUFA biosynthesis in animals. Together, these recent findings provide novel insights into the impact of differences in PUFA supply on health. This book captures these findings in a manner that marks the state-of-the-art, placing them in the wider context of PUFA metabolism and nutritional science. Users will find a comprehensive discussion on the topic that presents the contributions of leading researchers who combine their knowledge to create a cohesive academic resource for researchers, those involved in production, and health policymakers. - Provides a comprehensive view of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism - Describes underlying metabolism on lipids that include polyunsaturated fatty acids - Includes discussions on recent findings on the genetic and epigenetic regulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism

Chapter 1

Introduction: More Than 50 Years of Research on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism

Andrew J. Sinclair
Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Why would anyone be interested in lipids and fatty acids for more than 50 years? It is because this field is fascinating, because there is such a great variety of research and application in biology, medicine, agriculture, and nutrition, and many of the discoveries are of fundamental importance to everyday lives. It only takes a few minutes of searching PubMed (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) to realize that nutrition is being overrun by large-scale research studies, many of which involves the microbiome, with huge teams, including experts in molecular biology, metabolomics, bioinformatics, medicine, immunology, and the microbiome itself. However, it is encouraging that lipid scientists and multidisciplinary collaborators in fields such as arthritis, chronic headache pain relief, maternal and infant nutrition, psychiatry and basic brain research, are conducting multidisciplinary studies. The future is bright if such multidisciplinary collaborations continue.

Keywords

AA

brain

DHA

DPA

EPA

LA

lipid mediators

omega 3 fatty acids

Outline

1. References

Why would anyone be interested in lipids and fatty acids for more than 50 years? This is a question that I often get asked by family and friends and it is not all that easy to give a simple answer, other than to say that, like many branches of science, there is something new to learn every day. People not involved in science find this hard to believe. In some respects, science can be like the daily news cycle: always something interesting on a daily basis, some of which is totally in the moment and other bits, which remain with you forever. Specifically, this field is fascinating because there is such a great variety of research in biology, medicine, agriculture and nutrition, and many of the discoveries are of fundamental importance to everyday lives.

Two such examples suffice to whet the reader’s appetite:

1. 1. Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can play a significant role in improving the quality of life for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, and in addit...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• List of Contributors
• Chapter 1: Introduction: More Than 50 Years of Research on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism
• Chapter 2: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis and Metabolism in Adult Mammals
• Chapter 3: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis and Metabolism in Fish
• Chapter 4: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis and Metabolism in Agriculturally Important Species
• Chapter 5: The Biochemistry and Regulation of Fatty Acid Desaturases in Animals
• Chapter 6: Biochemistry and Regulation of Elongases 2 and 5 in Mammals
• Chapter 7: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Metabolism and Nutritional Requirements in Pregnancy and Infancy
• Chapter 8: Metabolism of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids by Cells of the Immune System
• Chapter 9: Polyunsaturated Fatty Biosynthesis and Metabolism in Reproductive Tissues
• Chapter 10: The Effect of Dietary Modification on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis and Metabolism
• Chapter 11: Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism in Vegetarians
• Chapter 12: Genetic Influences on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis and Metabolism
• Chapter 13: Interactions Between Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and the Epigenome
• Index