FOOD SCIENCE ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (23): 364-369.doi: 10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20200817-222

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advances in Identifying Food Sources and Understanding Bioactivities and Mechanisms of Action of Branched-Chain Fatty Acids

HUANG Mengyao, CHENG Ming, WANG Cunfang, JIANG Hua   

  1. (1. School of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China; 2. Qingdao Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Institute, Qingdao 266000, China)
  • Online:2021-12-15 Published:2021-12-29

Abstract: Branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) are a family of saturated fatty acids with a special branched structure that exists widely in nature. BCFAs have excellent application characteristics and high market value owing to their unique physicochemical properties and potent bioactivities. In this article, the distribution characteristics of BCFAs in breast milk, animal products, fish products and other foods are described, and the recent progress in understanding the functional activities of BCFA such as inhibiting inflammation and cancer, preventing and treating ischemic reperfusion injury and lowering blood lipids and in their application is summarized. This review is expected to provide a theoretical reference for the application of BCFAs in functional foods and formulated foods for special medical purposes.

Key words: branched-chain fatty acid; food sources identifying; anti-inflammatory effect; anticancer action; mechanism of action

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