Dietary Lipids: Sources, Function and Metabolism
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2012) | Viewed by 131087
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Dietary lipids derived from plants and animals are essential for growth and development, and serve as an energy reserve. They encompass fatty acids (saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, the latter further categorised as omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids), their derivatives including mono-, di-, and triglycerides and phospholipids, as well as sterols such as cholesterol. Humans have a dietary requirement for essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid (found mostly in vegetable oils) and alpha-linolenic acid (found in some green-leafed plants, seeds, nuts and legumes), because these fatty acids cannot be synthesized from precursors in the diet. Fish oils are a rich source of the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. There is much evidence demonstrating significant health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in infant development, cardiovascular diseases and some mental illnesses. In contrast, consumption of trans fats which occur naturally in some foods but derive mostly during food processing through partial hydrogenation of unsaturated fats, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Blood lipids are transported as lipoproteins with the liver playing a major role in lipid metabolism. Lipids are essential components of biological membranes, but are also involved in cell signalling and act as substrates for various enzymes leading to the formation of an array of biologically active metabolites known as eicosanoids. The purpose of this special issue of Nutrients is to assemble recent literature on the topic of dietary lipids in humans with particular emphasis on breast feeding, nutrition in childhood and adolescence, omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular health and cognitive function, and new findings in their metabolism to bioactive metabolites.
Prof. Dr. Trevor Mori
Guest Editor
Keywords
- Breastfeeding and infant nutrition
- Childhood and adolescence
- Human dietary studies and cardiovascular health
- Diet and cognitive performance
- Novel bioactive metabolites
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.
