Is there a role for essential fatty acids in osteoporosis?

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8804070 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1476-5640 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09543007 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Eur J Clin Nutr Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2003->: London : Nature Publishing Group
Original Publication: London : J. Libbey, c1988-

Fatty Acids, Essential*/metabolism ; Osteoporosis*/prevention & control ; Osteoporosis*/etiology ; Osteoporosis*/metabolism; Humans ; Female ; Bone Density/drug effects ; Estrogens/metabolism ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Cytokines/blood ; Inflammation

Inflammatory markers are inversely associated with bone density, geometry, and strength in postmenopausal women, and elderly subjects suggesting that osteoporosis is a low-grade systemic inflammatory condition. But glucocorticoids that are potent anti-inflammatory compounds instead of arresting/preventing osteoporosis induce osteoporosis. These results indicate that IL-6 and TNF-α, post-menopausal state, and steroids produce osteoporosis by an unidentified mechanism. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, estrogen, and steroids bring about their actions by influencing the metabolism of essential fatty acids (EFAs). I propose that EFAs and their metabolites act as second messengers of actions of corticosteroids, cytokines, and estrogen. This implies that EFAs are of benefit in the prevention and management of osteoporosis. This argument is supported by the observation that plasma phospholipid content of unsaturated fatty acids is decreased in those with osteoporosis. The reports that long-chain metabolites of EFAs including arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, and lipoxin A4 are of benefit in the prevention and management of osteoporosis lends further support to this proposal.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

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0 (Fatty Acids, Essential)
0 (Estrogens)
0 (Cytokines)

Date Created: 20240605 Date Completed: 20240805 Latest Revision: 20240805

20240806

10.1038/s41430-024-01456-2

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