Role of n-3 Fatty Acids on Bile Acid Metabolism and Transport in Dyslipidemia: A Review.

Dietary n-3 fatty acids, especially of marine origin,
eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic
acid (22:6n-3), have always been lauded for their profound
effects on regulating the risk factors for major metabolic
disorders. Yet, their consumption rate is poor compared to
n-6 fatty acids [linoleic acid (18:2n-6)], which are predominantly
consumed. Hence, the skewed n-6 to n-3 fatty acid
ratio may have a bearing on the risk factors of various diseases,
including dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia and other lifestyle
diseases associated with it, such as diabetes, obesity,
hypertension, are a growing concern in both developed and
developing countries. A common strategy for addressing
dyslipidemia involves bile acid (BA) sequestration, to interrupt
the enterohepatic circulation of BA, resulting in the
modulation of lipid absorption in the intestine, thereby normalizing
the levels of circulating lipids. The BA homeostasis
is under the tight control of hepatic and enteric BA
transporters. Many investigations have reported the effects
of dietary constituents, including certain fatty acids on the
reabsorption and transport of BA. However, a critical
review of the effects of n-3 fatty acids on BA metabolism
and transport is not available. The present review attempts
to explore certain unmapped facets of the n-3 fatty acids on
BA metabolism and transport in dyslipidemia, and their
interplay with biological processes involving lipid rafts and
gut microbiome.