Preface

Interest in fatty acids is growing, as they have been demonstrated to be associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and other diseases and health conditions.

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are top contributors to death worldwide. Increasing public education on nutrition and therapeutic strategies to decrease the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as approaches to treat inflammation, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and other diseases, has become imperative. Moreover, the biosynthesis and processing of fatty acids are important for addressing human health and environmental concerns.

Dietary patterns have been suggested to influence the risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Furthermore, individuals with lipid metabolic disorders need unique lipid recommendations to address changes in lipid metabolism. Lipidomics is one such technique to help provide nutrition and therapeutic recommendations for genetic disorders, in addition to recommendations for individuals with certain diseases and health conditions. Synthesizing and processing fatty acids can make them available for individuals experiencing health issues or for those interested in lowering the risk factors for chronic diseases.

This book highlights methods to produce fatty acids as well as provides fatty acid recommendations to decrease the risk factors for chronic diseases. Moreover, it discusses nutrition, fatty acid, and therapeutic strategies for individuals with certain diseases and health conditions.

I hope this book encourages further research on the mechanisms by which fatty acids decrease the risk factors for chronic diseases. In addition, I hope research continues to provide fatty acid recommendations for individuals with certain diseases and health conditions.

> **Erik Froyen, Ph.D.** Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA

Section 1
