Research
Hormonal
Elevated free fatty acids promote endothelial dysfunction by activating inflammatory pathways (NF-κB) and oxidative stress (NADPH oxidase), leading to reduced nitric oxide availability and increased vasoconstrictors like endothelin-1.
High levels of fatty acids in the blood trigger inflammation and oxidative stress in blood vessel walls. This damage reduces the body's ability to produce nitric oxide (a vessel relaxer) and increases substances that tighten vessels. Reducing metabolic stress helps lower this inflammatory burden.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
FFAs may contribute to inflammatory states that lead to enhance endothelial permeability... One of the major pathways leading to FFAs-induced ED is the activation of NF-κB... FFAs, on the other hand, have also been shown to be activators of the RAS... Ang II causes vasoconstriction by stimulation of ET and depletion of NO
Why this rating
Supported by multiple studies cited in the review, including clinical and animal models.
Source
Role of free fatty acids in endothelial dysfunction
Arijit Ghosh et al. · Journal of Biomedical Science · 2017
DOI 10.1186/s12929-017-0357-5
narrative_reviewCited 413×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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