Interactions between differential fatty acids and inflammatory stressors—impact on metabolic health

Abstract

Current interest in obesity has established a clear link between diets high in fat and metabolic complications such as Type 2 Diabetes. Dietary fats and their metabolites act as stressors to induce a pro-inflammatory immune response which dysregulates many essential metabolic functions. Recent research suggests that different dietary fats may have varying inflammatory potentials. However the molecular mechanisms involved in the cross talk between dietary fat composition and the ‘immuno-metabolism’ remain enigmatic. It is probable that lipids, and their derivatives, differentially regulate IL-1β activation and inflammatory signaling via the NLRP3 inflammasome complex. Also from the translational perspective, certain nutrient sensitive genotypes and potential gene nutrient interactions offer the possibility to reduce inflammation through personalized nutrition approaches.