The study on the effects of the number of carbons and double bonds in polyunsaturated fatty acids on health functions.

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21748
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 59:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Gotoh Naohiro 東京海洋大学, 学術研究院, 教授 (60323854)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 脂質蓄積抑制 / 脂肪酸構造 / 多価不飽和脂肪酸 / 有機合成 / 保健機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The object of this study is to establish a method to synthesize fatty acids with more carbons and more double bonds than naturally occurring polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as 26 carbons and 7 double bonds (26:7). Furthermore, to clarify how the ability to improve lipid metabolism changes as the number of carbons and double bonds increases. As the result, I could establish a method to synthesize 26:7. Furthermore, I could evaluate its ability to inhibit lipid accumulation in cell tests using Hepal-6 cells and found that 26:7 is superior to THA (24:6), a naturally occurring PUFA with the strongest lipid-accumulating protect ability reported so far.

Free Research Field

脂質化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では炭素数や二重結合数が、天然に存在する多価不飽和脂肪酸（PUFA）より多い26:7（炭素数6、二重結合数7）を合成し、その脂肪蓄積抑制能機能を精査した。結果、26:7の方が天然PUFAの中で最も高い機能を有するTHA（24:6）よりその効果は強かった。このことより、PUFAで炭素数や二重結合数は脂質蓄積抑制能に重要な因子であり、さらに炭素数や二重結合数が多いPUFAは、非常に強い脂肪蓄積抑制剤が開発できるという知見を得るに至った。生活習慣病の増加、特に内臓脂肪の増加は糖尿病や心筋梗塞などにつながる。今回得た知見を基に強い脂肪蓄積抑制剤が開発できることより本研究の社会的意義は大きい。