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Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 23, No. 4, 281-302 (2004)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Biochemical, Nutritional and Epigenetic Properties

Paola Benatti, MC, Gianfranco Peluso, MD, Raffaella Nicolai, PhD and Menotti Calvani, MD

Scientific Department, Sigma Tau S.p.A. Pomezia, Rome (P.B., R.N., M.C.)
Department of Experimental Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Naples (G.P.), ITALY

Address reprint requests to: Menotti Calvani, MD, Scientific Director of Sigma-tau S.p.A., Scientific Department, Sigma Tau S.p.A., via Pontina Km 30,400, 00040 - Pomezia, Rome, ITALY. E-mail: menotti.calvani{at}sigma-tau.it

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have effects on diverse physiological processes impacting normal health and chronic diseases, such as the regulation of plasma lipid levels, cardiovascular and immune function, insulin action and neuronal development and visual function. Ingestion of PUFA will lead to their distribution to virtually every cell in the body with effects on membrane composition and function, eicosanoid synthesis, cellular signaling and regulation of gene expression. Cell specific lipid metabolism, as well as the expression of fatty acid-regulated transcription factors, likely play an important role in determining how cells respond to changes in PUFA composition. This review will focus on recent advances on the essentiality of these molecules and on their interplay in cell physiology, leading to new perspective in different therapeutic fields.

Key words: polyunsaturated fatty acids, nutrition, carnitine, eicosanoid metabolism, gene expression, chronic diseases

Abbreviations: AA = arachidonic acid • BMD = bone mineral density • COX = cyclooxigenase • DHA = docosahexaenoic acid • DGLA = di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid • EFA = essential fatty acids • EGF = epithelial growth factor • EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid • HETE = hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid • HNF = hepatic nuclear factor • HPETE = hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid • IFN = interferon • IGF = insulin-like growth factor • IL = interleukin • LA = linoleic acid • LNA = alpha-linolenic acid • LOX = lipooxygenase • LT = leukotriene • LXR = liver X receptors • NF-kB = nuclear factor kB • NSAIDs = nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs • PBMC = peripheral blood mononuclear cells • PGE = prostaglandin • PGI = prostacyclin • PIF = proteolysis-inducing factor • PLA2 = phospholipase A2 • PPAR = peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor • PUFA = polyunsaturated fatty acids • RXR = retinoid X receptors • SREBP = sterol regulatory element-binding protein • TGF = transforming growth factor • TNF = tumor necrosis factor • TR = thyroid hormone receptor • TX = thromboxane




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