Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Health

Abstract

Current data highlight the importance of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in maintaining the integrity of intestinal epithelial barrier function. In contrast, breakdown of intestinal barrier function due to high intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) facilitates lipopolysaccharides (LPS) migration into the bloodstream, thus enabling systemic inflammation, which is common to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the axes for the formation of lipoproteins (LP) are the intestine and liver. The first one produces LP from dietary lipids, while in the liver LP are generated from endogenous lipids. Therefore, the role of intestine in several chronic ailments has been in the spotlight. The benefits of omega‐3 and omega‐6 fatty acids have been covered in other articles in this series. Therefore, this contribution summarizes the potential of dietary lipids in improving health by describing the role of omega‐9 fatty acids and its sources in influencing gut health and beyond.