Functional Lipids in Metabolic Syndrome.

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic disorders that contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome is complicated, dietary lipids have been recognized as contributory factors in the development and the prevention of cardiovascular risk clustering. We investigated the physiological functions and molecular actions of functional lipids, especially omega3-polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing lipids, in the development of metabolic syndrome using obese model animals. Feeding of omega3-PUFA-containing lipids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, tetracosahexaenoic acid, and omega3-phosphatidylcholine, alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation through the suppression of lipogenic gene expression in the liver. Additionally, dietary omega3-PUFA-containing lipids increased serum adiponectin levels in obese animal models. Their molecular actions in the prevention and alleviation of metabolic syndrome could be attributed to the regulation of the activity or abundance of several transcriptional factors in the liver and adipose tissue. Dietary functional lipids would be useful to prevent or alleviate metabolic syndrome in obese animals. In particular, the function of omega3-containing lipids as dietary adiponectin inducers deserves attention with respect to alleviation of metabolic syndrome by dietary manipulation.