Animal studies show that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in cell membranes are important determinants of metabolic rate. Both omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA are essential components of the diet and need to be present balanced proportions in the diet for optimal function. This project will investigate PUFA balance in the Australian food chain, and the effect of diet PUFA balance on cell membrane composition and metabolic rate of humans and rats. It will examine the hypothesis that the modern diet is unbalanced, that this affects metabolic rate by influencing membrane composition. It has implications for the current obesity epidemic.
Animal studies show that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in cell membranes are important determinants of metabolic rate. Both omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA are essential components of the diet and need to be present balanced proportions in the diet for optimal function. This project will investigate PUFA balance in the Australian food chain, and the effect of diet PUFA balance on cell membrane composition and metabolic rate of humans and rats. It will examine the hypothesis that the modern diet is unbalanced, that this affects metabolic rate by influencing membrane composition. It has implications for the current obesity epidemic.
