ISSN 2169-3048
Review
Roles of dietary lipids in nutrition-medicine
Obimba Kelechukwu Clarence
Biochemistry Programme, Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Rhema University Aba. P.M.B. 7021, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]; Tel.(+234) 07034851899
Accepted 27 May, 2013
Abstract
The objective of this study is to investigate the importance of dietary lipids-related diseases with a view to exploring feasible preventive and curative dietary and/or drug therapies. Foods low in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids content but moderate in poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including chicken, lean fish meal, and plant seeds rich in phytosterols (e.g β-sitosterol), such as soya bean , corn and groundnut, seeds, should form the chief of the dietary protein sources for people predisposed or vulnerable to atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Large dietary intake of linoleic fatty acids should be avoided by those susceptible to high blood pressure caused by the over-expression of prostaglandin endoperoxidase synthase. Drugs that inhibit prostaglandin endoperoxidase synthase (a cyclooxygenase, COX) would reduce prostaglandin synthesis in normal individuals (individuals not associated with over-expression of COX) causing hypo-prostaglandinosis which increases the risk of cardiovascular incidences such as heart attack and strokes. Over-expression of COX-2 can be controlled by such drugs as inhibit COX (e.g ibuprofen vasoprin, and aspirin), by which means heart attacks, cardiac arrests, and strokes are prevented in patients suffering from hyper-prostaglandinosis.
Key words: Phytosterol, atherosclerosis, prostaglandin endoperoxidase synthase, cardiovascular.