This volume contains the proceedings of an International Symposium held in Toulouse on 22 to 23 April 1988 on essential fatty acids. This symposium was initiated by Professor Jacques Ghisolfi and Kabi Laboratories were honoured to contribute to the organization of the meeting. Specialists from several countries gathered to discuss developments about essential fatty acids. The intention was to bring the audience up to the state of the art in this field.

Fat has a bad reputation in modern society despite being an essential part of our health and well-being. Across the animal kingdom, fat plays all sorts of vital roles in energy storage and insulation for migration, breeding and mating. Written by an expert in the field, this intriguing popular science book fills the gap between unscientific comments about dietary fats, weight control and the health hazards of high- or low-fat diets found in magazines; and technical medical reports about lipid biochemistry and obesity in animals and humans. It explains in clear, nontechnical language where fats come from and how the body handles them; the natural roles of fats; and the biology of feasting and fasting, and fattening and slimming in wild animals as well as people. All readers with an interest in fat and its uses and manifestations will find this book an enjoyable and informative read.

In recent years, scientific evidence supporting the relationship between diet and health has emerged. This has led to a growing interest in full and healthy food habits, in which fruits and vegetables are abundant (particularly in the Mediterranean diet) and act as sources of natural antioxidants as well as play major roles in preventing certain diseases. It is estimated that 80% of cardiovascular disease, 90% of type 2 diabetes mellitus cases and one third of cancerous processes, could be avoided including changes in lifestyle and diet improvements. Specifically, the increment on scientific reports relating the intake of antioxidant compounds and the maintenance of health has increased noticeably. The importance of dietary antioxidants lies in its ability to preserve foods containing them, and to perform the in vivo contribution of natural antioxidants. There are several scientific studies demonstrating the positive effect of exogenous and endogenous antioxidants against degenerative diseases, various cancers and diseases related to aging caused by oxidative attacks. Lipid peroxidation is thought to be an important factor in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases and in the process of ageing, but its measurement in vivo has been difficult. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate methods for measurement of lipid peroxidation in vivo that are suitable for clinical investigations, and to apply these methods in animal and human studies investigating basal conditions and situations associated with increased lipid peroxidation. Over the course of the past 25 years, more than 3800 articles have been published in the field of IsoP research by numerous investigators around the world. Numerous excellent reviews have been written describing the formation, chemical synthesis, and biological activities of IsoPs, as well as their potential use as biomarkers of diseases. This review will provide a brief historical perspective on the discovery of IsoPs with its primary focus on recent clinical research in the field. In conclusion, the simultaneous measurement of several biomarkers of lipid peroxidation is a promising approach for future studies investigating the possible role of lipid peroxidation in vivo under basal conditions and in the pathology of diseases.

In an effort to provide alternatives to trans and saturated fats, scientists have been busy modifying the physical properties of oils to resemble those of fats. In this fashion, many food products requiring a specific texture and rheology can be made with these novel oil-based materials without causing significant changes to final product quality. The major approach to form these materials is to incorporate specific molecules (polymers, amphiphiles, waxes) into the oil components that will alter the physical properties of the oil so that its fluidity will decrease and the rheological properties will be similar to those of fats. These new oilbased materials are referred to as oil gels, or "oleogels," and this emerging technology is the focus of many scientific investigations geared toward helping decrease the incidence of obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding field which includes fundamental nanoscale phenomena and processes, nanomaterials, nanoscale devices and systems, nanomanufacturing, and benefits and risks of nanotechnology. This book serves as a valuable reference and resource for those interested in the field of nanotechnology - from basic research to engineering aspects of nanoparticles. It covers thermodynamics to engineering aspects of nanoparticles or nanoemulsions; synthesis and applications of surface active lipids to food and cosmetics; and pharmaceutical applications to nanomedicine. Lipids in Nanotechnology will be useful to scholars, scientists, and technologists who are interested in the field of lipid nanotechnology.

This well-known and highly successful book was first published in 1973 and has been completely re-written in subsequent editions (published in 1982 and 2003). This new Fourth Edition has become necessary because of the pace of developments in mass spectrometry of intact lipids, which has given recognition of lipid analysis and 'lipidomics' as a distinct science. To bring the book up to date with these developments, author William W. Christie is joined by co-author Xianlin Han. Although devoting considerable space to mass spectrometry and lipidomics, Lipid analysis remains a practical guide, in one volume, to the complexities of the analysis of lipids. As in past editions, it is designed to act as a primary source, of value at the laboratory bench rather than residing on a library shelf. Lipid analysis deals with the isolation, separation, identification and structural analysis of glycerolipids, including triacylglycerols, phospholipids, sphingolipids, and the various hydrolysis products of these. The chapters follow a logical sequence from the extraction of lipids to the isolation and characterization of particular lipid classes and of molecular species of each, and to the mass spectrometric analysis of lipids and lipidomics. The new influence of mass spectrometry is due mainly to the development of electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Most emphasis in this book is placed on ESI, which is enabling structural characterization of different lipid classes and the identification of novel lipids and their molecular species.

This book presents an overview of sphingolipids: biology, synthesis and functions. The topics analysed in this book cover a broad spectrum of functions played by sphingolipids including: the role of sphingomyelin in the regulation of membrane physical state; tricyclic antidepressants as modulators of sphingolipid turnover and cell sensitivity to insulin action; sphingolipid diversity, biosynthesis and regulation; metabolism of glycolipids at the cell's surface: modulation and functional implications; the specific role of sphingomyelins in cell physiology; the role of sphingosine-based lipids using sphingolipidomics; sphingolipids and ceramides of aqueous humor and trabecular meshwork; the effect of membrane microdomains containing sphingolipids on lipid peroxidation; and roles of sphingolipids in skeletal development and homeostasis.

Obesity and diabetes develop as a complex result of genetic, metabolic and environmental factors and are characterized by increased lipogenesis and lipid accumulation in many tissues. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) genes are a critical regulator of lipogenesis and catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), mainly oleoyl- (18:1n9) and palmitoleoyl-CoA (16:1n7). These MUFAs are the major fatty acid substrates for the synthesis of triglycerides, cholesterol esters, wax esters and membrane phospholipids. There are 4 SCD isoforms (SCD1-4) in mice and two (hSCD1 and hSCD5) expressed in humans. At first glance, stearoyl-CoA desaturase enzyme would be considered a housekeeping enzyme because it synthesizes oleate a well-known fatty acid that is abundant in many dietary sources. However numerous studies have shown that SCD is a very highly regulated enzyme that features in so many physiological processes ranging from fat differentiation, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, inflammation and cancer. The editor's studies using stearoyl-CoA desaturase knockout (SCD1-/-) mice and studies of other investigators using pharmacological approaches to reduce SCD1 expression in mouse tissues have all established that the expression of SCD1 gene isoform represents a key step in partitioning of lipids between storage and oxidation. High SCD expression favors fat storage leading to obesity while reduced SCD expression favors fat burning and leanness. Although these studies clearly illustrated that SCD1 expression is involved in the development of obesity and insulin resistance, questions remain in the elucidation of the mechanisms involved and role of SCD1. This book includes chapters by leading researchers on SCD Genes in the brain, heart, muscle, liver metabolism, Colitis, and more.

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid and natural constituent of a number of foods, particularly vegetable oils. On the basis of proven beneficial health effects it is also a possible ingredient in processed functional foods. However, due to its high energy content it is not recommended to increase the consumption of any particular fat, but to substitute other lipids with oleic acid. While there is a well-established consensus that replacing saturated fats in the diet with oleic acid or other unsaturated fats contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels, a series of other effects has also been studied, including the modulation of inflammatory markers, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, gastrointestinal functions and even various cancers. This book discusses oleic acid's health effects, as well as its production, and how it is used.

Arachidonic acid (ARA) is one the two main polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the brain, especially in neuronal cells, and can be a target in the fight against the major public health concern represented by Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related disorders in high- as well as in low-income countries where elders constitute a growing part of the population. This compilation includes topics such as the use of arachidonic acid to prevent Alzheimer's disease; the dietary effects and sources of ARA; the effect of ARA on key oncogenic pathways in prostate cancer; and the effects of adipokines on prostaglandin E2 production by rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts.

For many years, the surface of cells was viewed as a homogeneous fluid lipid casing. However, it is now understood that the surface of cells is not homogeneous but instead contains domains selectively enriched in particular lipids and proteins. Although it is still not completely clear how these lipid platforms are formed, their existence provides a basis for the organisation of many cell processes. One possibility is that microdomain formation relies on lipid phase separation in the plane of the bilayer -- 'lipid raft' hypothesis. Lipid rafts are compelling since they provide spontaneous organisation for signal transduction as well as intracellular sorting and targeting. What are the functions of these domains? Do they rely on specific interactions and how do they change in response to cell signalling processes? Do they help in the understanding of cell signalling and immune function and how may they be disrupted in disease processes such as neurodegeneration?

Evidence now suggests that the roles of essential fatty acids as growth promoters and as indices of health and nutrition are fundamentally similar in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Lipids in Aquatic Ecosystems integrates this divergent literature into a coordinated, digestible form. Chapters are organized so as to discuss and synthesize the flow of lipids from lower to higher trophic levels, up to and including humans. Linkages between the production, distribution and pathways of these essential compounds within the various levels of the aquatic food webs, and their ultimate uptake by humans and other terrestrial organisms, are highlighted throughout the book. This book will be of interest to researchers and resource managers working with aquatic ecosystems.

This book provides a concise introduction to phospholipid chemistry and is intended for a broad audience of biologists, biochemists, and graduate students. Developed as part of a graduate course on lipids, this book also serves as a reference for laboratory investigators on signal transduction and biological membranes. The first part of the text is devoted to an orientation to the chemical nature of lipids in general, how they are thought to be associated in the cell, and the methodology by which the cellular lipids (including the phospholipids) can be recovered from cells and subjected to an initial identification. Subsequent chapters characterize the choline-containing phospholipids, including the sphingolipids, the non-choline containing phospholipids, and finally, the so-called minor phospholipids. The latter compounds, which act as agonists or lipid chemical mediators on cells, form a vanguard of a new category of biologically active substances and have set the study of cellular phospholipids on a new and exiting course. Most importantly, this book provides a basis for further inquiry on these complicated molecules, showing that although the compounds are unique, with care and understanding, they can be studied with ease

This monograph will put the biogenic marine lipids of many organisms in perspective. Volume 1 of 2.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid of the omega-3 (n-3) series that has received substantial attention due to its pivotal roles in biological functions including brain and visual development, cognition, inflammatory responses and with decreasing risk or mortality with cardiovascular diseases. This book reviews the properties of DHA, as well as its functions and effects on health. Chapter One reviews the literature on the effects of DHA in bone health with a focus on the growth period. Chapter Two examines recent trends in research leading to the obtaining of bioactive lipids able to deliver DHA with a high bioavailability. Chapter Three discusses DHA's protective effect on organ function and inflammatory response in burns. Chapter Four considers the effects of dietary DHA on CVD risk factors, and in particular its actions on vascular endothelial cell dysfunction.

One of the key challenges in biophysics and chemical biology is gaining an understanding of the underlying physico-chemical basis of the highly complex structure and properties of biomembranes. It used to be thought that the lipid component played a mainly passive role, simply acting as a self-assembled bilayer matrix within which the active protein components functioned. However, it has now become clear that there is a intimate two-way interplay between the lipid and the protein components in determining membrane structure, organization and dynamics, and that lipids play many active roles in biological function. Concepts such as lateral segregation and domain formation, lateral pressure, curvature and curvature elasticity have attracted enormous interest in recent years, although their validity when applied to real biomembranes remains unclear or even obscure. This Faraday Discussion considered recent developments in the study of biomembrane structure, ordering and dynamics, with particular emphasis on the roles of lipids in these phenomena. As well as discussing new experimental and theoretical findings and novel methodologies, the meeting focused on exploring the relevance of concepts from amphiphile self-assembly and soft matter physics to understanding biomembranes.

Driven both by real industrial needs and curiosity for fundamental research, edible oil structuring has emerged as a subject of growing interest with applications in real food systems. With contributions from leading research groups around the world, this book provides a comprehensive and concise overview of the field with special emphasis on the updates from the last 5 years. New insights into the mechanism of gelation in mono- and multicomponent gels are discussed for several categories of previously known structuring agents along with the potential food applications of some of these systems. In addition, use of alternative methods to explore structuring properties of hydrophilic biopolymers are presented with illustrative examples. Some new concepts such as bio-based synthesis of supergelators, foamed oleogels and use of innovative dispersion techniques give a broader picture of the current research in edible oil structuring. This book will be of interest to students, academics and scientists involved in the research of edible oil structuring. It will be an important reference as it provides current information on the state-of-the-art of the field.

Steroid hormones secreted from peripheral reproductive endocrine tissues regulate many important physiological functions not only during development, but also into adulthood and play a key role in the growth, differentiation and function of reproductive tissues. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the biosynthesis, functions and health implications of steroids. Topics include cytotoxic steroids and derivatives in the development of anticancer drugs; identifying steroid hormones in biological and environmental samples; steroid receptors involvement in the pathogenesis of abnormal ovarian follicular cysts; oestrogen treatment after menopause to protect against dementia and cognitive decline; the evolving role of steroids in immunosuppression and transplantation; nasal steroids in adenoidal hypertrophy; and cytogenetic damage following anabolic steroids exposure.

Glycolipids are carbohydrate-attached lipids. Their role is to provide energy and also serve as markers for cellular recognition. They occur where a carbohydrate chain is associated with phospholipids on the exoplasmic surface of the cell membrane. The carbohydrates are found on the outer surface of all eukaryotic cell membranes. They extend from the phospholipid bilayer into the aqueous environment outside the cell where it acts as a recognition site for specific chemicals as well as helping to maintain the stability of the membrane and attaching cells to one another to form tissues. This new book focuses on recent research results from around the world.

"Handbook of Chromatography: Analysis of Lipids" provides a valuable review of state-of-the-art applications of chromatographic techniques (TLC, GC, HPLC) and other analytical techniques. Much of this volume is devoted to applications of HPLC (including supercritical fluid chromatography) in the analysis of lipids such as fatty acids, oxygenated fatty acids, enantiomeric acyl- and alkylglycerols, and lipoproteins. The handbook also provides extensive coverage of applications of combinations of various chromatographic techniques used in the analysis of ozonides, anacardic acids, glycerophospholipids, products of lipolysis, artifacts and contaminants in edible fats, acylated proteins, non-caloric lipids, lipophilic vitamins, acyl-Coenzyme A thioesters, dolichols, mycolic acids, technical fats and fat products, and liposomes.
"Handbook of Chromatography: Analysis of Lipids" will be a useful reference for oil chemists, biochemists, fat science technologists, and other scientists involved in lipid research.

Our brain is recognized by all specialists as the most complex entity created in nature. Regarding the extraordinary capacities of its functioning, still incompletely known, the control of the brain by our dietary lipids may seem very improbable to many people. Yet, research has shown that an imbalance in the intake of essential fatty acids is related to conditions as prevalent as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Research on psychological disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, aggressiveness and suicidal behavior are discussed in this text. Several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis are also explored. Several observations prove that not only are omega-3 fatty acids actively involved in maintaining the noble functions of our brain, but other lipids, including cholesterol, liposoluble vitamins (A, D and E) and some carotenoids play roles as well and are presented in this book. Dietary Lipids for Healthy Brain Function focuses on this important research for human health. This book brings readers, doctors, dietitians and nutritionists arguments that could improve brain development in young people, prevent many nervous diseases and slow down the age-related decline of higher brain functions. This book provides helpful information to improve health in the young as well in the old, using practical and personalized recommendations for preventing and treating nervous pathologies. Features: * Focuses on the importance of dietary lipids on the proper brain functioning. * Provides relevant references demonstrating the efficiency of dietary lipids to maintain a healthy brain. * Introduces lipid sources and describes their roles by lipid groups in behavior issues and various chronic nervous diseases.

Extensively revised, reorganized, and expanded, the third edition of the industry standard, The Lipid Handbook reflects many of the changes in lipid science and technology that have occurred in the last decade. All chapters have been rewritten, many by new authors, to match the updated thinking and practice of modern lipid science and bring a fresh perspective to twenty years of tradition. Retaining the general structure of the previous editions, The Lipid Handbook with CD-ROM, Third Edition collates a wide range of information into a single volume. New contributions highlight the latest technologies utilized in today's lipid science such as chromatographic analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. An entirely new chapter is devoted to non-food uses such as lipids as surfactants, cosmetics, and biofuels. Expanded sections illustrate a growing emphasis on lipid metabolism and the nutritional, medical, and agricultural aspects including human dietary requirements and disorders of lipid metabolism. The dictionary section is vastly expanded to cover chemical structure, physical properties, and references to thousands of lipid and lipid related molecules. The handbook now includes a CD-ROM that allows instant access to tabulated and referenced information and can be searched either as the full text or by structure or substructure. Drawing from the best minds in the field, The Lipid Handbook with CD-ROM, Third Edition presents the latest technological developments and the current and future directions and applications of lipid science to the next generation of researchers.

Most plasma lipid abnormalities reflect an interaction between genetic and lifestyle factors. This volume describes plasma lipid transport, the various categories of plasma lipid disorders and the relationship between plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and atherosclerotic disease. It examines the contrasting role of LDL and HDL in atherogenesis and also describes the possible contributions of VLDL and chylomicrons. Cell surface receptors and other key proteins playing an important role in plasma lipoprotein regulation and metabolism are discussed, and the possible contribution of oxidative damage to LDL atherogenicity is considered. There is a final reflection on the effects of these disorders on endothelial function. The information provided should be useful to physicians and scientists interested in plasma lipid transport and how abnormalities of plasma lipids and lipoproteins relate to disease states.