Biomaterial Database

Essentiality of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for efficient liver sterol metabolism. 1995

E Levy

Centre de Recherche of Sainte-Justine Hospital, Université de Montréal, Québec.

Abundant data from both experimental animals and humans now support the conclusion that the incidence of atherosclerosis is related to the concentration of plasma cholesterol. Cholesterol homeostasis in the body is maintained by regulatory mechanisms, which control the input and output processes. The liver plays a key role in cholesterol balance. In this organ, the major part of the cholesterol synthesis, cholesterol conversion to bile acids and the delivery of cholesterol to the plasma in the form of lipoprotein remnants, low and high density lipoproteins. While many studies have related dietary intake of fatty acids to concentrations of cholesterol in the circulation, their potential effects on liver sterol metabolism have received relatively less attention. However, the liver represents the target of many stimuli capable of affecting cholesterol homeostasis. This review will focus on the regulation of liver sterol metabolism by omega-3 versus omega-6 fatty acids.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D011973	Receptors, LDL	Receptors on the plasma membrane of nonhepatic cells that specifically bind LDL. The receptors are localized in specialized regions called coated pits. Hypercholesteremia is caused by an allelic genetic defect of three types: 1, receptors do not bind to LDL; 2, there is reduced binding of LDL; and 3, there is normal binding but no internalization of LDL. In consequence, entry of cholesterol esters into the cell is impaired and the intracellular feedback by cholesterol on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase is lacking.	LDL Receptors,Lipoprotein LDL Receptors,Receptors, Low Density Lipoprotein,LDL Receptor,LDL Receptors, Lipoprotein,Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor,Low Density Lipoprotein Receptors,Receptors, Lipoprotein, LDL,Receptor, LDL,Receptors, Lipoprotein LDL
D002784	Cholesterol	The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils.	Epicholesterol
D005228	Fatty Acids, Essential	Long chain organic acid molecules that must be obtained from the diet. Examples are LINOLEIC ACIDS and LINOLENIC ACIDS.	Acids, Essential Fatty,Essential Fatty Acids
D005231	Fatty Acids, Unsaturated	FATTY ACIDS in which the carbon chain contains one or more double or triple carbon-carbon bonds.	Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,Unsaturated Fatty Acid,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids,Acid, Polyunsaturated Fatty,Acid, Unsaturated Fatty,Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty,Acids, Unsaturated Fatty,Fatty Acid, Polyunsaturated,Fatty Acid, Unsaturated,Unsaturated Fatty Acids
D006706	Homeostasis	The processes whereby the internal environment of an organism tends to remain balanced and stable.	Autoregulation
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015525	Fatty Acids, Omega-3	A group of unsaturated fatty acids occurring mainly in fish oils, with three double bonds at particular positions in the hydrocarbon chain.	N-3 Fatty Acid,Omega-3 Fatty Acid,Omega-3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Oil,n3 Oil,Omega 3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Oils,n-3 PUFA,n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,n3 Fatty Acid,n3 Oils,n3 PUFA,n3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,Acid, N-3 Fatty,Acid, Omega-3 Fatty,Fatty Acid, N-3,Fatty Acid, Omega-3,Fatty Acid, n3,N 3 Fatty Acid,Oil, n-3,Oil, n3,Omega 3 Fatty Acid,PUFA, n-3,PUFA, n3,n 3 Fatty Acids,n 3 Oil,n 3 Oils,n 3 PUFA,n 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid
D043371	Fatty Acids, Omega-6	FATTY ACIDS which have the first unsaturated bond in the sixth position from the omega carbon. A typical American diet tends to contain substantially more omega-6 than OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS.	N-6 Fatty Acid,Omega-6 Fatty Acid,Omega-6 Fatty Acids,Fatty Acids, Omega 6,N-6 Fatty Acids,Acid, N-6 Fatty,Acid, Omega-6 Fatty,Acids, N-6 Fatty,Acids, Omega-6 Fatty,Fatty Acid, N-6,Fatty Acid, Omega-6,Fatty Acids, N-6,N 6 Fatty Acid,N 6 Fatty Acids,Omega 6 Fatty Acid,Omega 6 Fatty Acids