Submit to Nutrients Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Lipids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 April 2025) | Viewed by 8336

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Eva Szabo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
Interests: fatty acids; perinatal life; human milk; pregnancy; type 1 diabetes mellitus; lipids; nutrition; paediatrics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The fatty acid composition of a diet can influence the fatty acid supply, therefore affecting metabolic health. The prevalence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide. The underlying causes may include changes in diet and the resulting shift in fatty acid intake. Altered fatty acid supply has been shown to be the cause of diverse metabolic diseases, and the fatty acid composition of a diet may also affect the development of certain diseases.

This Special Issue will focus on the association between dietary fatty acid intake and metabolic health. This association involves fatty acid-related exposures and interventions such as dietary fatty acid composition, fatty acid supplementation, calculated fatty acid intake and diets rich in one specific group of fatty acids (e.g., high n-3 LCPUFA, high MUFA), as well as outcomes such as metabolic diseases (like obesity, dyslipidaemia, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome), metabolic health indicators (e.g., measures of insulin sensitivity) and optimal vs. suboptimal blood lipid levels.

Dr. Eva Szabo
Guest Editor

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. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2900 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

diet
nutrition
food
essential fatty acids
linoleic acid
alpha-linolenic acid
eicosapentaenoic acid
docosahexaenoic acid
blood lipids
dyslipidaemia
metabolic syndrome
obesity
atherosclerosis
diabetes mellitus

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 427 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trans Isomeric Fatty Acids in Children and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

by Éva Szabó, Tamás Marosvölgyi, Krisztina Mihályi, Szimonetta Lohner and Tamás Decsi

Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111907 - 1 Jun 2025

Viewed by 468

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Dietary guidelines recommend limiting trans fatty acid (TFA) intake to avoid adverse health effects. However, the impact of TFA intake in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of TFAs in plasma and erythrocyte membrane lipids of young diabetic patients and healthy controls. Methods: Data were re-analyzed from three case-control studies including diabetic children (n = 40, mean age: 12.0 years), diabetic young adults (n = 34, mean age: 21.8 years), and children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA, n = 9, mean age: 16.0 years). In these studies, TFA data were quantified by gas chromatography, but data have not yet been published. Results: Diabetic young adults and diabetic children had significantly lower TFAs in plasma lipids compared to healthy controls (sum of TFA in plasma sterol esters: 0.54 [0.34] versus 0.64 [0.37] and 0.51 [0.13] versus 0.65 [0.29], %, median [interquartile range], p < 0.05). However, children with DKA had significantly higher TFA levels in almost all plasma lipid fractions than the other two diabetic groups. Several negative correlations were observed between TFA and n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in all groups, especially in the erythrocyte membrane lipid fractions. However, in the plasma fractions the correlation was less clear; both positive and negative correlations were found in each of the groups studied. Conclusions: Lower TFA values in young adults and children with diabetes may be associated with dietary patterns lower in TFAs, while elevated TFA values in DKA may be linked to challenges in adherence to dietary guidelines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 1843 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fish Oil Supplementation Attenuates Offspring’s Neurodevelopmental Changes Induced by a Maternal High-Fat Diet in a Rat Model

by Yasna Muñoz, Heidy Kaune, Alexies Dagnino-Subiabre, Gonzalo Cruz, Jorge Toledo, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Renato Moraga, Luis Tabilo, Cristian Flores, Alfredo Muñoz, Nicolás Crisosto, Juan F. Montiel and Manuel Maliqueo

Nutrients 2025, 17(10), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101741 - 21 May 2025

Viewed by 775

Abstract

Background/Objectives: A maternal high-fat diet (HFD) impairs brain structure in offspring. In turn, fish oil (FO) rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has neuroprotective effects. Therefore, we investigated whether maternal HFD exposure affected the neurological reflexes, neuron morphology, and n-3 PUFA levels in the cerebral cortex of the offspring and whether these effects were mitigated by maternal FO consumption. Methods: Female Sprague Dawley rats received a control diet (CD, 10% Kcal fat) or HFD (45% Kcal fat) five weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation. From mating, a subgroup of HFD was supplemented with 11.4% FO into the diet (HFD-FO). Neurological reflexes were evaluated from postnatal day (PND) 3 until PND20. Brains were removed at PND22 for neuron morphology analysis. Moreover, fatty acid composition and transcripts of genes encoding for factors associated with synapse transmission (SNAP-25), plasticity (BDNF), transport of DHA (MFSD2a), and inflammation (NF-κB and IL-1β) were quantified in prefrontal, motor, and auditory cortices. Results: FO diminished the effects of HFD on the number of thin and mushroom-shaped dendritic spines in the cerebral cortex in both sexes. It also reversed the HFD effects on the motor and auditory reflexes in female and male offspring, respectively. In males, FO up-regulated Bdnf transcript levels in the motor cortex compared with CD and HFD. In females, n-3 PUFAs were higher in HFD and HFD-FO than in CD in the auditory cortex. Conclusions: Our results highlight the protective role of maternal dietary n-3 PUFAs in counteracting the effects induced by HFD on the acquisition of neurological reflexes and neuronal morphology in the cerebral cortex of the offspring of both sexes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 4883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Fat Diet in Perinatal Period Promotes Liver Steatosis and Low Desaturation Capacity of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Dams: A Link with Anxiety-Like Behavior in Rats

by Lorena Mercado-López, Yasna Muñoz, Camila Farias, María Paz Beyer, Robinson Carrasco-Gutiérrez, Angie Vanessa Caicedo-Paz, Alexies Dagnino-Subiabre, Alejandra Espinosa and Rodrigo Valenzuela

Nutrients 2025, 17(7), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071180 - 28 Mar 2025

Viewed by 731

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) during pregnancy and lactation on maternal and offspring health, focusing on behavioral, metabolic, and fatty acid composition outcomes in a rat model. Methods: Twelve female Sprague–Dawley rats were fed either a control diet, CD (n = 6), or HFD (n = 6) for 12 weeks, encompassing mating, gestation, and lactation periods (18 weeks). Anxiety-like behavior, maternal behavior, depression-like behavior, and social play were studied. Post mortem, the liver function, hepatic steatosis, and fatty acid composition (erythrocytes, liver, adipose tissue) were evaluated. In regard to desaturase enzymes (Δ-6D and Δ-5D), liver activity, protein mass, and gene expression (RT-PCR) were analyzed. Additionally, gene expression of PPAR-α, ACOX, CPT1-α, SREBP-1c, ACC, and FAS was assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test, mean ± SD (p < 0.05). Results: The HFD significantly increased maternal weight and anxiety-like behavior while reducing social interactions exclusively in male offspring (p < 0.05). It also led to a significant decrease in the synthesis and content of n-3 PUFAs in the analyzed tissues, induced hepatic steatosis, and upregulated the expression of pro-lipogenic genes in the maternal liver. Conclusions: These findings suggest that long-term HFD consumption alters tissue fatty acid composition, disrupts metabolic homeostasis, and contributes to behavioral changes, increasing anxiety-like behaviors in pregnant dams and reducing social interactions in male offspring. Overall, this study provides further insight into the detrimental effects of HFD consumption during the perinatal period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2146 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Extract of Camellia Seed Cake Alleviates Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Mice by Promoting Coenzyme Q Synthesis

by Xinzhi Chen, Bolin Chen, Zhigang Li, Li Ma, Qinhe Zhu, Changwei Liu, Haixiang He, Zhixu Zhang, Chuyi Zhou, Guanying Liu, Yuqiao Zhou, Senwen Deng, Shiyin Guo and Yongzhong Chen

Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17061032 - 15 Mar 2025

Viewed by 782

Abstract

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent metabolic disorder. Camellia seed cake, a byproduct of oil extraction, contains a variety of bioactive compounds. This study investigated the regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms of camellia seed cake extract (CSCE) using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MASLD mouse model. Methods: Mice were divided into four groups: normal control (N, standard diet), HFD model (M), HFD-fed mice treated with low-dose CSCE (L), and HFD-fed mice treated with high-dose CSCE (H). CSCE was administered via oral gavage for eight weeks. Body weight, blood lipid levels, liver weight, hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative stress markers, ATP levels, and the NADH/NAD⁺ ratio were measured. Transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses were performed to identify potential regulatory pathways, and qPCR analysis was conducted to confirm the expression levels of essential genes. Results: CSCE significantly reduced HFD-induced increases in body and liver weights, improved blood lipid profiles and hepatic lipid accumulation, alleviated oxidative stress, increased ATP levels, and reduced the NADH/NAD⁺ ratio. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated notable enrichment of genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial function, and lipid metabolism after treatment. The lipidomic analysis demonstrated that the hepatic lipid profile of the H group approached that of the N group, with Coenzyme Q9 (CoQ9) and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels significantly increased by 173.32% and 202.73%, respectively, compared to the M group. qPCR validation confirmed that CoQ synthesis-related genes (Coq2–10, Pdss1, Pdss2, and Hmgcr) were significantly upregulated in the treatment groups. Conclusions: CSCE enhances mitochondrial function by promoting CoQ synthesis, alleviates metabolic dysfunction, and could represent a potential natural intervention for MASLD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lipoprotein(a) Response to Dietary Saturated Fat Reduction: Relationship to Apolipoprotein(a) Size Polymorphism in African Americans

by Hayley G. Law, Munkhtuya Myagmarsuren, Heejung Bang, Wei Zhang, Michael Lefevre, Lars Berglund and Byambaa Enkhmaa

Nutrients 2025, 17(3), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030426 - 24 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1187

Abstract

Background/Objectives: An elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] level, which is a prevalent cardiovascular risk factor, is genetically determined by a size polymorphism of its apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] component. Despite its genetic control, Lp(a) level increases in response to dietary saturated fat (SFA) reduction. We tested the roles of apo(a) size and characteristics in modulating Lp(a) response to SFA reduction. Methods: We assessed apo(a) characteristics in 165 African Americans experiencing a 24% Lp(a) increase resulting from SFA reduction [16% at an average American Diet diet (AAD) to 6% at a DASH-type diet]. Apo(a) effects were tested based on the following factors: (1) the presence of a small atherogenic size (≤22 kringles), (2) phenotype (single or two isoforms), (3) isoform dominance, and (4) tertiles of combined kringle sizes. Results: There were no significant differences in Lp(a) increases between carriers vs. non-carriers of a small apo(a), between those with a single vs. two expressed isoforms, or in those with differing isoform dominance patterns (p > 0.05 for all). The extent of Lp(a) increase differed across increasing tertiles of combined kringle sizes (p = 0.006 for trend). In a multivariate model, the AAD Lp(a) level was a significant predictor of Lp(a) changes (p < 0.05). Relative increases in the allele-specific apo(a) level—an Lp(a) level associated with a defined apo(a) size—were similar across the apo(a) size spectrum. Conclusions: Reducing dietary SFA intake results in a 24% increase in Lp(a) level in African Americans across apo(a) sizes. Individuals with smaller apo(a) sizes reached an elevated Lp(a) level post-intervention compared to those with larger sizes, in some cases resulting in cardiovascular risk reclassification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lipidomic Signature of Healthy Diet Adherence and Its Association with Cardiometabolic Risk in American Adults

by Loni Berkowitz, Guadalupe Echeverría, Cristian Salazar, Cristian Faúndez, Christopher L. Coe, Carol Ryff and Attilio Rigotti

Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 3995; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16233995 - 22 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1122

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the blood lipidomic profile associated with a healthy eating pattern in a middle-aged US population sample and to determine its relationship with metabolic disorders and cardiovascular risk (CVR). Methodology: Self-reported information about diet and blood samples were obtained from 2114 adult participants in the Midlife in the United States study (MIDUS). Food intake data were used to design a Healthy Diet Index (MIDUS-HEI) and to evaluate the predictive value by examining its association with health variables. The associated lipid signature (HEI-LS) was constructed using Lasso regression, from lipidomic data (LC/MS). Associations between HEI-LS, cardiometabolic biomarkers, and estimated CVR were assessed using multiple linear regression. Results: MIDUS-HEI score was a robust indicator of dietary quality and inversely associated with body mass index (p < 0.001) and metabolic syndrome (p = 0.012). A lipidomic signature comprising 57 distinct lipid species was highly correlated with the MIDUS-HEI score (r = 0.39, p < 10⁻¹⁶). It was characterized by lower levels of saturated fatty acid and adrenic acid (n-6) and higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid (n-3). Healthier HEI-LS scores were strongly associated with better cardiometabolic indicators and lower estimated CVR (OR 0.89 CI 95% 0.87–0.91). Conclusions: The MIDUS-HEI effectively assessed dietary quality, confirming the link between poor diet quality and metabolic disorders in American population. Lipidomic profiling offered an objective assessment of dietary patterns and provided insights into the relationship between diet quality, metabolic responses, and CVR. This approach supports precision nutrition strategies for at-risk populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Dietary Fatty Acid Composition on the Intestinal Microbiota and Fecal Metabolism of Rats Fed a High-Fructose/High-Fat Diet

by Zhihao Zhao, Lihuang Zhong, Pengfei Zhou, Yuanyuan Deng, Guang Liu, Ping Li, Jiarui Zeng, Yan Zhang, Xiaojun Tang and Mingwei Zhang

Nutrients 2024, 16(21), 3774; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213774 - 3 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1666

Abstract

Background/Objectives: An inappropriate intake of dietary fats can disrupt the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota, affect the host’s metabolic status, and increase the risk of chronic diseases. The impact of dietary fat types on the composition and metabolic functionality of the intestinal microbiota has become a research focus over recent years. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of regular peanut oil (PO) and high-oleic-acid peanut oil (HOPO) on the composition and metabolic function of the intestinal microbiota. Methods: A dietary intervention test was conducted on SD rats fed a high-fat/high-fructose (HFF) diet. The composition and metabolic functionality of the intestinal microbiota of the experimental rats were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fecal metabolomics. Results: Compared with saturated fat, PO and HOPO enhanced the diversity of intestinal microbiota in HFF diet-fed rats. Compared with PO, HOPO significantly increased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Harryflintia (p < 0.05), which are able to generate butyrate and acetate. Compared with saturated fat, 318 and 271 fecal biomarkers were identified in PO and HOPO groups, respectively. In contrast, 68 fecal biomarkers were identified between the PO and HOPO groups. The inhibition of harmful proteolytic fermentation in the colon may represent the main regulatory mechanism. With regard to metabolic status, HOPO provided better control of body weight and insulin sensitivity than PO. Conclusions: Compared with saturated fat, peanut oils better regulated the composition and metabolic function of the intestinal microbiota. In addition, HOPO exhibited better regulatory effects than PO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 4987 KiB

Open AccessReview

Dietary Omega-3 PUFAs in Metabolic Disease Research: A Decade of Omics-Enabled Insights (2014–2024)

by Jing Li, Yang-Chi-Dung Lin, Hua-Li Zuo, Hsi-Yuan Huang, Tao Zhang, Jin-Wei Bai and Hsien-Da Huang

Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1836; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111836 - 28 May 2025

Viewed by 734

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The rising global prevalence of metabolic diseases (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus) underscores the need for effective interventions. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit therapeutic potential, yet their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This systematic review synthesizes a decade (2014–2024) of omics research to elucidate Omega-3 PUFA mechanisms in metabolic diseases and identify future directions. Methods: A PRISMA-guided search of the Web of Science identified studies on Omega-3 PUFAs, metabolic diseases, and omics. After excluding reviews, non-English articles, and irrelevant studies, 72 articles were analyzed (16 multi-omics, 17 lipidomics, 10 transcriptomics/metabolomics/microbiomics each, and 6 proteomics). Results: Omics studies demonstrated that Omega-3 PUFAs, particularly EPA and DHA, improve metabolic health through interconnected mechanisms. They regulate epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation and miRNA expression, influencing genes linked to inflammation and insulin sensitivity. Omega-3 PUFAs reduce oxidative stress by mitigating protein carbonylation and enhancing antioxidant defenses. Gut microbiota modulation is evident through increased beneficial taxa (e.g., Bacteroidetes, Akkermansia) and reduced pro-inflammatory species, correlating with improved metabolic parameters. Mitochondrial function is enhanced via upregulated fatty acid oxidation and TCA cycle activity, while anti-inflammatory effects arise from NF-κB pathway suppression and macrophage polarization toward an M2 phenotype. Challenges include interindividual variability in responses and a limited understanding of dynamic metabolic interactions. Conclusions: Omega-3 PUFAs target multiple pathways to improve metabolic health. Future research should prioritize chemoproteomics for direct target identification, multi-omics integration, and personalized strategies combining Omega-3 with therapies like calorie restriction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Dietary Fatty Acids and Metabolic Health

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI