The role of nonesterified fatty acids in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases
The paper reviews publications concerned the role of nonesterifi ed fatty acids (NEFA) in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. NEFAs are four and more carbons chain length carbonic acids and they are presented in free form (nonesterifi ed) in human body. Plasma NEFAs are produced by the adipose tissue triglyceride lipolysis, another source are lipoproteins such as chylomicrons, very low density lipoproteins and intermediate density lipoproteins. Elevated NEFA concentrations in plasma are the risk factor of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus and the independent risk factor of hypertension and sudden death. NEFA plasma concentration is elevated in atherosclerosis, acute myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, and often in metabolic syndrome. A probable cause of NEFAs accumulation in plasma may be overeating and low physical activity, which result in increase of adipose tissue mass, lipolysis intensifi cation and elevation of NEFAs concentration in plasma. The role of elevated plasma NEFA concentration in a number of conditions (abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, endothelial dysfunction, vascular infl ammation, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, rhythm disturbances, sudden death) and possible ways of their correction are discussed.