Research
Mixed
Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) promote atherosclerosis by activating TLR4 and NFκB pathways in macrophages, leading to increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-6, TNF-α) and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Limit intake of saturated fats (found in animal products, some tropical oils) as they may directly trigger inflammatory pathways in blood vessel walls, contributing to plaque formation.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
SFAs stimulate the inflammatory activation of macrophages by a process that involves TLR4... The activation of TLR4 by SFA induces an over-activation of IL-6 and TNF-α inflammatory genes through a nuclear factor κB (NFκB)–dependent mechanism [64–66].
Why this rating
Based on in vitro and animal models (apoE-/- mice), with noted 'poor translation to clinics'.
Source
Molecular Immune-Inflammatory Connections between Dietary Fats and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Which Translation into Clinics?
Elisa Mattavelli et al. · Nutrients · 2021
DOI 10.3390/nu13113768
narrative_reviewCited 12×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Dietary fats exert pro- or anti-inflammatory effects on atherosclerosis through specific immune-inflammatory pathways (e.g., TLR4 activation by saturated fats, SCFA-mediated anti-inflammation) that operate independently of, or in addition to, their metabolic effects on serum lipids.Moderate
- Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate and acetate, produced by gut microbiota from fiber, exert anti-atherogenic effects by binding to FFAR2 receptors, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and promoting regulatory T cell activity.Moderate
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