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Metabolites
Special Issues
Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Obesity
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Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Obesity

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Lipid Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2231

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Klaudia Sztolsztener

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry and Division of Medical Education in English, Medical University of Bialystok, 15089 Bialystok, Poland
Interests: cardiometabolic risk; fatty liver disease; obesity, type 2 diabetes; lipid metabolism; inflammation; oxidative stress
Dr. Elzbieta Supruniuk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
Interests: branched-chain amino acids; lipid metabolism; stem cells; insulin resistance; fatty acid transport
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Obesity is a significant cause of mortality worldwide, accompanied by several metabolic disorders. Lipid metabolites are essential regulators of physiological and pathological processes. As such, lipid component changes can profoundly affect cell function, the immune system, antioxidant defenses, and inflammatory responses. It is imperative to use the knowledge gained while searching for the causes behind these conditions to devise innovative approaches to combat them. By investigating lipid metabolism disorders and analyzing lipid profiles, the articles submitted to this Special Issue will contribute valuable data for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity-related diseases and the prevention of lipid complications, enriching our understanding of lipid precursors/biomarkers and their application to lipid-metabolic disorders.

This Metabolites Special Issue is dedicated to collecting original articles and reviews focusing on new etiological factors that may influence the development of obesity and metabolic disorders. We strongly suggest that all submissions have a substantial focus on lipid measurement and other metabolic biomarkers.

Dr. Klaudia Sztolsztener
Dr. Elzbieta Supruniuk
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fatty liver diseases
  • overweight and obesity
  • cardiometabolic risks
  • lipid metabolism
  • metabolic syndrome
  • adipose tissue

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1192 KB  
Article
Serum Endocan Levels Correlate with Metabolic Syndrome Severity and Endothelial Dysfunction: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the MetS-Z Score
by Mehmet Vatansever, Selçuk Yaman, Ahmet Cimbek, Yılmaz Sezgin and Serap Ozer Yaman
Metabolites 2025, 15(8), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15080521 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 476
Abstract
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex clinical condition characterized by the coexistence of interrelated metabolic abnormalities that significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Endocan—an endothelial cell-specific molecule—is considered a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. This [...] Read more.
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex clinical condition characterized by the coexistence of interrelated metabolic abnormalities that significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Endocan—an endothelial cell-specific molecule—is considered a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum endocan levels and the severity of MetS, assessed using the MetS-Z score. Methods: This study included 120 patients with MetS and 50 healthy controls. MetS was diagnosed according to the NCEP-ATP III criteria. MetS-Z scores were calculated using the MetS Severity Calculator. Serum levels of endocan, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were measured using the ELISA method. Results: Serum levels of endocan, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly higher in the MetS group compared to the control group (all p < 0.001). When the MetS group was divided into tertiles based on MetS-Z scores, stepwise and statistically significant increases were observed in the levels of endocan and other endothelial markers from the lowest to highest tertile (p < 0.0001). Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between the MetS-Z score and serum endocan levels (r = 0.584, p < 0.0001). ROC curve analysis showed that endocan has high diagnostic accuracy for identifying MetS (AUC = 0.967, p = 0.0001), with a cutoff value of >88.0 ng/L. Conclusions: Circulating levels of endocan were significantly increased in MetS and were associated with the severity of MetS, suggesting that endocan may play a role in the cellular response to endothelial dysfunction-related injury in patients with MetS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Obesity)
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Review

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20 pages, 1114 KB  
Review
Fatty Acid Profile and Desaturase Activity in Obesity: Roles, Mechanisms, and Clinical Relevance
by Michalina Banaszak, Ilona Górna and Sławomira Drzymała-Czyż
Metabolites 2025, 15(9), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15090595 - 8 Sep 2025
Viewed by 374
Abstract
Background: Obesity is a complex metabolic disease associated with several health complications, including insulin resistance, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Growing evidence indicates that fatty acid profiles and the activity of desaturating enzymes—stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), delta-5 desaturase (D5D), and delta-6 desaturase (D6D)—are [...] Read more.
Background: Obesity is a complex metabolic disease associated with several health complications, including insulin resistance, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Growing evidence indicates that fatty acid profiles and the activity of desaturating enzymes—stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), delta-5 desaturase (D5D), and delta-6 desaturase (D6D)—are important factors in the pathophysiology of obesity. This review aims to summarise the current understanding of the alterations in lipid metabolism and desaturase activity in obesity, its complications, and potential therapeutic interventions. Methods: A literature review was performed using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical studies, cross-sectional studies, and animal studies that assessed fatty acid profiles and desaturase activity in the context of obesity were included. Results: Obesity is associated with significant changes in the profiles of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as well as altered desaturase activity. Increased activity of SCD1 and D6D and decreased activity of D5D are observed even in childhood and correlate with metabolic risk markers. Genetic variation in genes encoding fatty acid desaturases, such as fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), and SCD1, influences lipid metabolism and susceptibility to metabolic disorders. Nutritional interventions, supplementation (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids, L-carnitine, and crocin), physical activity, and bariatric surgery positively influence the fatty acid profile and enzymatic activity, modifying the risk of obesity-related diseases. Conclusions: Fatty acid profile and desaturase activity are significantly altered in obesity and represent potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for its treatment and the prevention of related complications. Their assessment may contribute to a more personalised approach to treating obesity and associated metabolic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Obesity)
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41 pages, 2467 KB  
Review
Crosstalk Between Skeletal Muscle and Proximal Connective Tissues in Lipid Dysregulation in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
by Nataša Pollak, Efua Gyakye Janežič, Žiga Šink and Chiedozie Kenneth Ugwoke
Metabolites 2025, 15(9), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15090581 - 30 Aug 2025
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) profoundly disrupt lipid metabolism within local microenvironments of skeletal muscle and its associated connective tissues, including adipose tissue, bone, and fascia. However, the role of local communication between skeletal muscle and its proximal connective tissues [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) profoundly disrupt lipid metabolism within local microenvironments of skeletal muscle and its associated connective tissues, including adipose tissue, bone, and fascia. However, the role of local communication between skeletal muscle and its proximal connective tissues in propagating metabolic dysfunction is incompletely understood. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on these local metabolic interactions, highlighting novel insights and existing gaps. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature analysis of primary research published in the last decade, sourced from PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. Studies were selected for relevance to skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, fascia, and bone lipid metabolism in the context of obesity and T2DM, with emphasis on molecular, cellular, and paracrine mechanisms of local crosstalk. Findings were organized into thematic sections addressing physiological regulation, pathological remodeling, and inter-organ signaling pathways. Results: Our synthesis reveals that local lipid dysregulation in obesity and T2DM involves altered fatty acid transporter dynamics, mitochondrial overload, fibro-adipogenic remodeling, and compartment-specific adipose tissue dysfunction. Crosstalk via myokines, adipokines, osteokines, bioactive lipids, and exosomal miRNAs integrates metabolic responses across these tissues, amplifying insulin resistance and lipotoxic stress. Emerging evidence highlights the underappreciated roles of fascia and marrow adipocytes in regional lipid handling. Conclusions: Collectively, these insights underscore the pivotal role of inter-tissue crosstalk among skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, bone, and fascia in orchestrating lipid-induced insulin resistance, and highlight the need for integrative strategies that target this multicompartmental network to mitigate metabolic dysfunction in obesity and T2DM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Metabolism Disorders in Obesity)
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