Physiologic effects of individual fatty acids in animal and human body, with particular attention to coronary heart disease risk modulation

Dietary fatty acids have a wide spectrum of functions in the body. They may all serve as energy source, but polyunsaturated fatty acids are preferably incorporated into cell membranes and affect membrane composition and funct ionality. Some fatty acids may change gene transcription, and long chain po lyunsaturated fatty acids, released from cell membranes, serve as precursor s of eicosanoid synthesis. Far, acids affect lipid and lipoprotein levels. Lipoproteins may be modified in several ways, e.g, become oxidized or glyca ted, which in turn affects their metabolic fate. Fatty acids affect endothe lial function via inflammatory, oxidative and haemostatic processes. This s hows that fatty acids exert regulatory functions in many ways beyond plasma cholesterol level changes. Effects of individual fatty acids are not neces sarily one-directional, i.e. there may be both negative and positive aspect s to them. Omega3 polyunsatureated far, acids have a particularly wide spec trum of favourable effects.