There is a large body of literature suggesting that monounsaturated fatty acids are beneficial to human diet, and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease possibly through anti-inflammatory effects. From a biophysical point of view, unsaturated fatty acids are ‘good’ to biological membranes because, being liquid at body temperature yet not easily oxidized, help maintain membrane fluidity within the appropriate limits. Recent studies have revealed that, in animal models of metabolic disease, the adipose tissue releases the monounsaturated fatty acid palmitoleic acid (cis-9-hexadecenoic acid; 16:1n-7), which suppresses hepatic steatosis and improves insulin sensitivity in the whole body. However, aside from, or in addition to, these effects, there is something else to palmitoleic acid that makes it unique in terms of its biological activity, leading to the concept of this fatty acid serving as a lipid hormone, or ‘lipokine’ that coordinates metabolic responses between tissues.

Peer reviewed