Fatty Acid Metabolism and Cardiovascular Health

Fatty acids serve both as fundamental energy substrates and as bioactive regulators of cellular processes. In the liver and adipose tissue, dietary and endogenously synthesised fatty acids undergo activation, transport into mitochondria via the carnitine shuttle and sequential β-oxidation, yielding acetyl-CoA for the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Beyond their energetic role, long-chain fatty acids are incorporated into membrane phospholipids, modulating fluidity and receptor function, and act as precursors for signalling lipids such as eicosanoids and specialised pro-resolving mediators. The balance between saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated species influences lipoprotein assembly and clearance, endothelial integrity and inflammatory tone. Elevated levels of certain saturated fatty acids and trans isomers correlate with dyslipidaemia, endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherogenesis, whereas omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids promote anti-inflammatory pathways, improve endothelial responsiveness and stabilise atherosclerotic plaques. Recent advances have also highlighted the role of gut microbial metabolism in generating novel oxygenated derivatives of common fatty acids, with emerging links to coagulation and vascular inflammation. Genetic variation in enzymes governing desaturation and elongation further modulates individual lipid profiles and cardiovascular risk, underscoring the interplay between diet, host metabolism and vascular health. Applications of this knowledge range from dietary guidance—aiming to replace saturated and trans fats with unsaturated alternatives—to therapeutic strategies that target fatty acid transport and signalling pathways for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

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Fatty Acid Metabolism and Cardiovascular Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in fatty acid metabolism and cardiovascular health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Saturated fatty acids: Fatty acids lacking carbon–carbon double bonds, often solid at room temperature and associated with increased low-density lipoprotein levels.

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs): Fatty acids containing a single double bond, which can improve lipid profiles and support endothelial function.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): Fatty acids with two or more double bonds, including omega-3 and omega-6 families, that serve as precursors for pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators.

Eicosanoids: Bioactive signalling lipids derived from 20-carbon PUFAs, regulating inflammation, vascular tone and platelet aggregation.

Lipoproteins: Complexes of lipids and apolipoproteins that transport hydrophobic fatty acids and cholesterol through the circulation.

References

1. The Octadecanoids: Synthesis and Bioactivity of 18-Carbon Oxygenated Fatty Acids in Mammals, Bacteria, and Fungi. Chemical Reviews (2024).
2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Inflammatory Processes. Nutrients (2010).
3. Effects on Coronary Heart Disease of Increasing Polyunsaturated Fat in Place of Saturated Fat: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLOS Medicine (2010).
4. Saturated Fats Compared With Unsaturated Fats and Sources of Carbohydrates in Relation to Risk of Coronary Heart Disease A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2015).
5. Global, regional, and national consumption levels of dietary fats and oils in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis including 266 country-specific nutrition surveys. The BMJ (2014).