Lipids are highly diverse molecules that are as important for life as proteins and genes with critical roles in membrane structure, cell signaling, energy storage, inflammation regulation, and as base units for constructing messenger hormones. The two functions of the lipids that can be modulated by nutrition therapy are membrane structure and inflammation control. The membrane structure is at least 50–75% lipids with embedded protein structures forming receptors, channels, and other structures. “You are what you eat.” What fats and oils and sterols you eat become the structural composition of your membranes and influence their function of cell signaling, communication, and transport. Inflammation control: The lipid eicosanoid molecules play a key role in our survival. They are the primary metabolites teaming with the immune system to manage the immune response and control inflammation. Cholesterol is essential to life by providing the base unit for production of hormones, neurological cells (neurons, myelin, brain tissue, etc.), bile, and others. As with all natural components of the chemical body, each cholesterol molecule has multiple functions. Each function depends on the balance of the amount of cholesterol deposited in the cell membranes. This balance is foundational to optimized cell function and may be related to compromised metabolism when cholesterol is too low. Hypocholesterolemia is total cholesterol <120–150 mg/dL. On the low-end of the spectrum, hypocholesterolemia is associated with increased incidence of mood disorders like depression, as well as cancer, and sepsis. Deficiency of Omega-6 could look like eczema, dermatitis, GERD, and Viral infections. Deficiency of EPA, DHA, LA, and ALA could look like altered mood and skin health, cardiovascular issues and cancer. One of our fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin D, has many functions. It is a powerful immune modulator that plays a role in defense and repair. Vitamin A, another fat-soluble vitamin, is increasingly recognized in experimental and human studies to enable suppression of inflammatory reactions and plays a significant role in normal mucosal immunity, regulation of T cell-dependent responses, antiviral activity, and cell communication. Adequate vitamin A status, whether from intake of preformed retinol (e.g., animal sources: egg yolk, organ meats, fish, shellfish, and roe) or from b-carotene (e.g., yellow and green vegetables) is important for preventing excessive or prolonged inflammatory reactions and supporting the eicosanoid cascade.
Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy by: Diane Noland, Jeanne A. Drisko, Leigh Wagner
