Modification of cell membrane composition by dietary lipids and its implications for atherosclerosis.

Dietary lipids can modify the properties of cell membranes, including membrane fluidity and membrane permeability. The saturation and isomerization of dietary fatty acids may affect the pattern of fatty acids acylated to glycerol in phospholipids. Oxidized sterols may affect membrane properties directly by their insertion in the membrane or indirectly through their effects on lipid metabolism. The flow of calcium and other nutrients into the cells appears to be a major property affected by those changes in lipid composition of membranes and may be important in the onset of atherosclerosis. The factors that alter the character of the lipids in cell membranes should receive increased study in both in vitro and in vivo systems to clarify their role in diseases processes.