Effects of Linoleic Acid on Cardiac Function and Blood Pressure Regulation

摘要

Linoleic acid concentrations in tissues have many effects on cell membrane composition and integrity itself and indirectly via its conversion to dihomo-gamma-linolenic and arachidonic acid on the biosynthesis of a great variety of prostaglandins, thromboxanes, hydroxy fatty acids and leukotrienes. These highly active compounds are synthesized from dihomo-gamma-linolenic and arachidonic acid by nearly all tissues as soon as these are stimulated by chemical, mechanical or hormonal stimuli. The released prostaglandins are known to interact, mainly inhibitory, with a variety of hormones such as renin, catecholamines and insulin. This complicated combination of effects makes it difficult to predict and/or explain the influences of varying amounts of dietary linoleic acid on e.g. heart and kidney function. However, this difficulty should not distract attention of medical practitioners from the overall effects of dietary linoleic acid which on themself are clear enough.