The 1st Congress of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL): fatty acids and lipids from cell biology to human disease.

Abstract

The ISSFAL held its first congress on “Fatty Acids and Lipids from Cell Biology to Human Disease” in Lugano, Switzerland, June 30-July 3, 1993. Four hundred and fifty persons from 35 countries attended, and a total of 332 abstracts consisting of state-of-the:art reviews, critiques, and new data were presented at 13 plenary lectures, 10 major symposia, 10 oral communications sessions, and 14 poster sessions, covering topics such as Intracellular Communication; A New Look at Fatty Acids as Signal Transducing Molecules; Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) in the Rigulation of Cytokine Synthesis; The Role of Fatty Acids During Pregnancy and Lactation; Fatty Acids and Human Physiology; Cardiovascular System; Hypertension; Diabetes; Cancer; Inflammation and Immunology; PUFA and Antioxidants; a round table discussion on The Future of Fatty Acids in Human Nutrition; Health and Policy Implications; and a final session, chaired by Dr. A. P. Simopoulos, in which summary statements were presented by the session chairmen for general discussion. During this final session it was recommended that tram fatty acids should be labeled as such and should not be included with other fatty acids, such as saturates or PUFA. The need for standardization of fatty acid and lipid nomenclature was recognized, and at the Board meeting of ISSFAL, a scientific committee was appointed by the President, Dr. A. Leaf, to develop a position paper. The summary statements of the symposia appear below in an abbreviated form. The full statements are included in the Congress proceedings.