Fatty Acids as Biomarkers

We are actively involved in research related to fatty acids as biomarkers. Fatty acid composition in blood and tissue reflects dietary habits and is an important tool for understanding the impact of dietary fats on health. In our research, we utilize fatty acid profiles in blood as objective biomarkers of dietary fat quality. By combining self-reported dietary data with these objective biomarkers, we gain a deeper, and more accurate, understanding of how different types of dietary fats affect cardiometabolic health. Important research to find novel biomarkers for different foods and nutrients is also conducted at our unit.

Our involvement in "The Fatty Acid and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE)" reflects our commitment to advancing the use of fatty acids as biomarkers in large-scale studies.

Key Publications

1. Schulze MB, Minihane AM, Saleh R, Risérus Intake and metabolism of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: nutritional implications for cardiometabolic diseases. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2020; 8:915-930.
2. Contrasting Carbohydrate Quantity and Quality and the Effects on Plasma Saturated and Monounsaturated Fatty Acids in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Bajahzer MF, Rosqvist F, Fridén M, Iggman D, Pingel R, Marklund M, Risérus U.J Nutr. 2023 Mar;153(3):683-690.
3. Marklund M et al; Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE). Biomarkers of Dietary Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality. Circulation 2019;139:2422-2436.
4. Rosqvist F, Friden M, Vessby J, Rorsman F, Lind L, Riserus U. Circulating fatty acids from high-throughput metabolomics platforms as potential biomarkers of dietary fatty acids. Clin nutr 2022;41: 2637-43.
5. Biomarkers of dairy fat intake, incident cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality: A cohort study, systematic review, and meta-analysis.
6. Trieu K, Bhat S, Dai Z, Leander K, Gigante B, Qian F, Korat AVA, Sun Q, Pan XF, Laguzzi F, Cederholm T, de Faire U, Hellénius ML, Wu JHY, Risérus U, Marklund M. Biomarkers of dairy fat intake, incident cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality: A cohort study, systematic review, and meta-analysis. PLoS Med 2021;18(9):e1003763.
7. Marklund M, Leander K, Vikström M, Laguzzi F, Gigante B, Sjögren P, Cederholm T, de Faire U, Hellénius ML, Risérus U. Polyunsaturated Fat Intake Estimated by Circulating Biomarkers and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in a Population-Based Cohort of 60-year-old Men and Women. Circulation 2015; 132:586-94.
8. Iggman D, Ärnlöv J, Cederholm T, Risérus U. Adipose tissue fatty acids and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in elderly men. JAMA Cardiology 2016; 1:745-753.
9. Rosqvist F, Fridén M, Vessby J, Hockings P, Hulthe J, Gummesson A, Niessen HG, Schultheis C, Wanders A, Ahlström H, Rorsman F, Risérus U. Fatty acids in multiple circulating lipid fractions reflects the composition of liver triglycerides in humans. Clin Nutr 2022; ;41:805-809.
10. Trieu K, Bhat S, Dai Z, Leander K, Gigante B, Qian F, Korat AVA, Sun Q, Pan XF, Laguzzi F, Cederholm T, de Faire U, Hellénius ML, Wu JHY, Risérus U, Marklund M. Biomarkers of dairy fat intake, incident cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality: A cohort study, systematic review, and meta-analysis. PLoS Med 2021;18(9):e1003763.
11. Marklund M, Magnusdottir OK, Rosqvist F, Cloetens L, Landberg R, Kolehmainen M, Brader L, Hermansen K, Poutanen KS, Herzig KH, Hukkanen J, Savolainen MJ, Dragsted LO, Schwab U, Paananen J, Uusitupa M, Akesson B, Thorsdottir I, Risérus U. A dietary biomarker approach captures compliance and cardiometabolic effects of a prudent Nordic diet in individuals with metabolic syndrome. J Nutr 2014; 144:1642-9.
12. Vessby B. Dietary fat, fatty acid composition in plasma and the metabolic syndrome. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2003;14(1):15-9.