Journal Article

Effect of dietary fatty acid composition on substrate utilization and body weight maintenance in humans

Krishnan, Sridevi, Cooper, Jamie A

2014

Overview

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Dietary fat content is a primary factor associated with the increase in global obesity rates. There is a delay in achieving fat balance following exposure to a high-fat (HF) diet (≥ 40 % of total energy from fat) and fat balance is closely linked to energy balance. Exercise has been shown to improve this rate of adaptation to a HF diet. Recently, however, the role of dietary fatty acid composition on energy and macronutrient balance has come into question. METHODS: We chose studies that compared monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and saturated fatty acids (SFA). We have reviewed studies that measured diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT), energy expenditure (EE), or fat oxidation (FOx) in response to a HF meal challenge, or long-term dietary intervention comparing these fatty acids. RESULTS: While single-meal studies show that SFA induce lower DIT and FOx compared to unsaturated fats, the effect of the degree of unsaturation (MUFA vs. PUFA) appears to yet be determined. Long-term dietary interventions also support the notion that unsaturated fats induce greater EE, DIT, and/or FOx versus SFA and that a high MUFA diet induces more weight loss compared to a high SFA diet. Sex and BMI status also affect the metabolic responses to different fatty acids; however, more research in these areas is warranted. CONCLUSION: SFA are likely more obesigenic than MUFA, and PUFA. The unsaturated fats appear to be more metabolically beneficial, specifically MUFA ≥ PUFA > SFA, as evidenced by the higher DIT and FOx following HF meals or diets.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag,Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adaptation, Physiological / adverse effects / Biological and medical sciences / body mass index / Chemistry / Chemistry and Materials Science / Diet, High-Fat / Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects / dietary fat / Dietary Fats / Dietary Fats - adverse effects / Dietary Fats - metabolism / Energy Metabolism / etiology / Exercise / fatty acid composition / Fatty Acids / Fatty Acids - adverse effects / Fatty Acids - metabolism / Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - adverse effects / Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - metabolism / Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - adverse effects / Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - metabolism / Feeding. Feeding behavior / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Humans / lipid content / metabolism / monounsaturated fatty acids / Nutrition / nutritional intervention / obesity / Obesity - etiology / Obesity - metabolism / Overweight / Overweight - etiology / Overweight - metabolism / oxidation / Oxidation-Reduction / polyunsaturated fatty acids / Review / saturated fatty acids / thermic effect of food / Thermogenesis / Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems / weight control / Weight Gain / weight loss