Influence of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Energy Metabolism and Bone Turnover
摘要
Even though bone has always been treated as a static tissue, it is also a relevant regulator of several metabolic processes not associated with mineral metabolism. Bone tissue is metabolically active, being considered as a true endocrine organ that affects energy metabolism, being this relationship, bidirectional. In this sense, omega-3 fatty acids, and especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), show beneficial effects in both bone turnover and energy metabolism. These fatty acids have been reported in human studies that can augment bone formation, reduce inflammatory cytokines, increase calcium absorption, and enhance skeletal calcium levels. DHA may have more potent bioactivity in bone than eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Omega-3 fatty acids have also been addressed regarding their possible implications in energy metabolism, having found a relationship with both glucose and lipid metabolisms, mainly related to improved insulin resistance, together with better management of lipogenesis and lipolysis, thus improving lipoprotein profiles.