Brain fatty acid (FA) metabolism deserves a close attention not only for its energetic aspects but also because FAs and their metabolites/derivatives are able to influence many neural functions, contributing to brain pathologies or representing potential targets for pharmacological and/or nutritional interventions. Glucose is the preferred energy substrate for the brain, whereas the role of FAs is more marginal. In conditions of decreased glucose supply, ketone bodies, mainly formed by FA oxidation, are the alternative main energy source. Ketogenic diets or medium-chain fatty acid supplementations were shown to produce therapeutic effects in several brain pathologies. Moreover, the positive effects exerted on brain functions by short-chain FAs and the consideration that they can be produced by intestinal flora metabolism contributed to the better understanding of the link between "gut-health" and "brain-health". Finally, attention was paid also to the regulatory role of essential polyunsaturated FAs and their derivatives on brain homeostasis.

Fats for thoughts: an update on brain fatty acid metabolism / Romano, Adele; Koczwara, JUSTYNA BARBARA; Gallelli, CRISTINA ANNA; Vergara, Daniele; Micioni Di Bonaventura, Maria Vittoria; Gaetani, Silvana; Giudetti, Anna Maria. - In: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY. - ISSN 1357-2725. - 84:(2017), pp. 40-45. [10.1016/j.biocel.2016.12.015]

Fats for thoughts: an update on brain fatty acid metabolism

ROMANO, ADELE;KOCZWARA, JUSTYNA BARBARA;GALLELLI, CRISTINA ANNA;GAETANI, SILVANA;
2017

Abstract

Brain fatty acid (FA) metabolism deserves a close attention not only for its energetic aspects but also because FAs and their metabolites/derivatives are able to influence many neural functions, contributing to brain pathologies or representing potential targets for pharmacological and/or nutritional interventions. Glucose is the preferred energy substrate for the brain, whereas the role of FAs is more marginal. In conditions of decreased glucose supply, ketone bodies, mainly formed by FA oxidation, are the alternative main energy source. Ketogenic diets or medium-chain fatty acid supplementations were shown to produce therapeutic effects in several brain pathologies. Moreover, the positive effects exerted on brain functions by short-chain FAs and the consideration that they can be produced by intestinal flora metabolism contributed to the better understanding of the link between "gut-health" and "brain-health". Finally, attention was paid also to the regulatory role of essential polyunsaturated FAs and their derivatives on brain homeostasis.
2017
ketone bodies; medium-chain fatty acids; polyunsaturated fatty acids; short-chain fatty acids; biochemistry; cell biology
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Fats for thoughts: an update on brain fatty acid metabolism / Romano, Adele; Koczwara, JUSTYNA BARBARA; Gallelli, CRISTINA ANNA; Vergara, Daniele; Micioni Di Bonaventura, Maria Vittoria; Gaetani, Silvana; Giudetti, Anna Maria. - In: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY. - ISSN 1357-2725. - 84:(2017), pp. 40-45. [10.1016/j.biocel.2016.12.015]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/958531
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