Potential physio-pathological effects of branched fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids

Melha Benlebna (1) , Laurence Balas (2) , Sylvie Gaillet (1) , Thierry Durand (2) , Charles Coudray (1) , François Casas (1) , Christine Feillet‐coudray (1)

1 DMEM - Dynamique Musculaire et Métabolisme
2 IBMM - Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron [Pôle Chimie Balard]

Branched Fatty Acid Esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acids (FAHFAs) are a new endogenous lipid class with recently uncovered interesting biological effects and which have been detected in food of plant and animal origins. Some FAHFAs can improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, stimulate insulin secretion, and exert anti-inflammatory effects. Other beneficial health effects have also been suggested, in particular against some cancers. FAHFAs could therefore be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of numerous metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes, hepatic steatosis, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers. Their recent discovery has generated a great interest in the field of human health. This short review aims at bringing together the information available to date in the literature concerning their chemical synthesis, biosynthesis and degradation pathways as well as their potential physio-pathological beneficial effects.

Mots clés: FAHFAs; Bioactive lipids; Metabolism; Diabetes; Obesity; Inflammation; Cancer

Domaines: Alimentation et Nutrition; Biochimie [q-bio.BM]; Endocrinologie et métabolisme

Melha Benlebna, Laurence Balas, Sylvie Gaillet, Thierry Durand, Charles Coudray, et al.. Potential physio-pathological effects of branched fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids. Biochimie, 2021, 182, pp.13-22. ⟨10.1016/j.biochi.2020.12.020⟩. ⟨hal-03115296⟩