The analysis of mechanisms associated with beneficial metabolic effects of marine Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in different lipid forms.

Obesity, one of the most serious health problems of the 21st century, often occurs as a result of an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Dietary lipids play an important role in the development of obesity, partly because they represent the richest source of energy amongst all macronutrients. It is, however, not only the amount of consumed lipids, but also the composition of fatty acids, which strongly influences health effects of a particular diet. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) are generally considered as unhealthy due to their pro-inflammatory and lipotoxic properties, while monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) represent a healthier alternative, as they are more readily oxidized and do not disrupt biochemical properties of cellular membranes. Amongst PUFA, PUFA of n-3 series (Omega-3) represent an utterly unique class of lipids that have been documented to protect against cardiovascular disease and dyslipidemia in men and improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance primarily in animal models of obesity. Some molecular mechanisms of Omega-3 action have been already uncovered, such as the modification of biological membranes composition, activation of various transcription factors and membrane receptors, and their role as precursors for..