Modulation of insulin resistance by PUFA in metabolic tissues

Consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been shown to be beneficial in the restoration of insulin sensitivity. It has become clear that n‐3 and n‐6 PUFAs act at the nuclear level to affect expression of genes involved in metabolic pathways. PUFAs act via transcription factors such as PPARs and sterol‐regulatory‐element‐binding proteins (SREBPs) to affect transcription of genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. Insulin binds to receptor tyrosin kinase and activates PI‐3K/Akt kinase pathway resulting in incorporation GLUT4 to cell membrane. Insulin also acts via PI‐3K/Akt kinase pathway on the regulation of gene expression. The activation of SREBP‐1c is mediated via PI‐3K and by this way insulin regulate lipid metabolism. ACC – glycerol phosphate acyltransferase, FAS – fatty acid synthase, FOXO – forkhead box protein, PDK1–phosphatidylinositol dependent kinase1, PI‐3K – phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase, RTK – receptor tyrosin kinase, SCD1–stearyl‐CoA desaturase‐1.