Bhathena S J
Phytonutrients Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, MD 20705, USA.
Biofactors. 2000;13(1-4):35-9. doi: 10.1002/biof.5520130107.
Significant interactions exist between fatty acids and the endocrine system. Hormones affect the metabolism of fatty acids and the fatty acid composition of tissue lipids. The principal hormones involved in lipid metabolism are insulin, glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol and growth hormone. The concentrations of these hormones are altered in chronic degenerative conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which in turn lead to alterations in tissue lipids. Lipogenesis and lipolysis, which modulate fatty acid concentrations in plasma and tissues, are under hormonal control. Neuropeptides are involved in lipid metabolism in brain and other tissues. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are also precursors for eicosanoids including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes, which have hormone-like activities. Fatty acids in turn alter both hormone and neuropeptide concentrations and their receptors. Saturated and trans fatty acids (TFA) decrease insulin concentration leading to insulin resistance. In contrast, PUFA increase plasma insulin concentration and decrease insulin resistance. In humans, omega-3 PUFA alter the levels of opioid peptides in plasma.
脂肪酸与内分泌系统之间存在显著的相互作用。激素会影响脂肪酸的代谢以及组织脂质的脂肪酸组成。参与脂质代谢的主要激素有胰岛素、胰高血糖素、儿茶酚胺、皮质醇和生长激素。在糖尿病和心血管疾病等慢性退行性疾病中，这些激素的浓度会发生改变，进而导致组织脂质的变化。调节血浆和组织中脂肪酸浓度的脂肪生成和脂肪分解受激素控制。神经肽参与大脑和其他组织中的脂质代谢。多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）也是类二十烷酸的前体，包括前列腺素、白三烯和血栓素，它们具有类似激素的活性。脂肪酸反过来又会改变激素和神经肽的浓度及其受体。饱和脂肪酸和反式脂肪酸（TFA）会降低胰岛素浓度，导致胰岛素抵抗。相比之下，PUFA会增加血浆胰岛素浓度并降低胰岛素抵抗。在人类中，ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸会改变血浆中阿片肽的水平。
