Role of free fatty acids on insulin resistance

Abstract

Free fatty acids are essential nutritional components and recent studies identified them as signaling molecules in various physiological processes. It has now been shown that high levels of free fatty acids, particularly saturated fatty acids, may be associated with insulin resistance in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance is important in clinical since it is related to various diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and abnormalities at cardiovascular level. Recent studies have proposed different molecular mechanisms by which these lipids may alter the signaling pathway of insu-lin. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent advances in the study of the effect of free fatty acids as modulators of insulin response.