Metabolon Target
Free Fatty Acids Targeted Panel
7 Metabolites
Absolute Quantitation
Rigorous Quality Control
End-to-end Service
About Free Fatty Acids
Fatty acids play many physiologically important roles in an organism. They are not only key metabolites of energy storage and production but they are also the basic building blocks of complex lipids that form cellular membranes. A variety of bioactive forms of fatty acid metabolites, known as lipid mediators, act as local hormones and are involved in many physiological systems and pathological processes. Free fatty acids (FFA, non-esterified fatty acids, NEFA) are the non-bound fraction of the total fatty acid pool. The determination of FFAs in plasma (or serum) is of clinical relevance as the associations between FFAs and many diseases are well-established (e.g., insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease).
Metabolomics reveals biological insights otherwise unseen. For a successful metabolomics study, both small molecule discovery and the ability to dig deeper into specific biomarkers of interest are needed to uncover actionable insights that propel new therapeutic developments. A specific combination of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology and biochemical expertise is required to identify these biomarkers of interest and develop assays that are sensitive enough to explore them fully.
At Metabolon, we understand the crucial role free fatty acids play in physiology, and we’ve established best-in-class expertise for their detection. This panel focuses on specific free fatty acids and their metabolic pathways and can be used to track biomarkers and enhance biological understanding across preclinical and clinical research.
Free Fatty Acids Targeted Panel Details
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| LLOQ* | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolite | Serum/Plasma | Tissue | |
| Palmitic Acid | 2.50 µg/mL | 18.8 µg/g | |
| Palmitoleic Acid | 0.250 µg/mL | 1.88 µg/g | |
| Margaric Acid | 0.0625 µg/mL | 0.469 µg/g | |
| Stearic Acid | 0.500 µg/mL | 3.75 µg/g | |
| Oleic Acid | 2.50 µg/mL | 18.8 µg/g | |
| Linoleic Acid | 2.50 µg/mL | 18.8 µg/g | |
| Linolenic Acid | 0.250 µg/mL | 1.88 µg/g | |
*Lower Limit of Quantitation (LLOQ) varies for each sample type.
Analysis Method and Instrumentation:
LC-MS/MS (Agilent 1290 UHPLC/Sciex QTrap 5500)
| Sample Type and Required Amounts | |
|---|---|
| Sample Type | Sample Requirements |
| Plasma/Serum | 100 to 150 µL |
| Tissue | 50 to 100 mg |
Others on request
Disclaimer: This method is for Research Use Only and is not to be used for diagnostic purposes.
Delivering Absolute Quantification for Research and Biomarker Analysis
Our readily available or custom developed quantitative assays help you achieve your research and biomarker validation objectives with precise and fully validated methods. Our targeted assays and panels cover >1,000 metabolites and lipids across a wide range of biochemical classes, metabolic pathways, and physiological processes, and they can be customized to best fit any application.
Free Fatty Acids Targeted Panel Applications
Inflammation
The importance of inflammation in the development of multiple diseases- and health-related conditions including neurodegeneration, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease is undisputed. Metabolomics can inform on inflammatory processes by providing a readout of the small molecules of an organism, tissue, biofluid, etc. This allows for direct molecular phenotyping of inflammation beyond the standard protein markers of typical assays. Metabolon offers several targeted assays, including oxysterols, fatty acids, kynurenine/tryptophan, and a range of others (central carbon, glucose tolerance, branched-chain amino acids, β-hydroxybutyrate) that can also inform on overall cardiovascular health that is often linked with inflammatory processes.
Cancer
Dysregulated metabolism is not only essential for the growth and proliferation of individual cancer cells; indeed, the physiology of the patient is as much a part of the equation as the tumor. Metabolomics can both identify cancer-specific drug targets and assess the patient’s phenotype more broadly, addressing key questions like who will respond to the therapy? How can we expand the pool of responders? How can we predict adverse events? Overall, metabolomics informs decision-making and positions development programs for success by providing a functional readout of the molecular phenotype.
Cardiovascular Diseases
Heart failure is a leading cause of death worldwide, and there are numerous factors that lead to this and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Metabolomics can illuminate cardiovascular disease at multiple levels. In preclinical studies, such as with cardiomyocytes or heart tissue from model organisms, understanding mitochondrial function, energetics, and redox status can drive critical insights into disease mechanism. In human studies, metabolomics offers the opportunity to account for well-established CVD risk factors such as cholesterol and complex lipids, while simultaneously profiling thousands of other biochemicals in an unbiased fashion to enable the discovery of novel disease mechanisms and biomarkers.
Liver
The liver is the single most important regulator of metabolic homeostasis at the organismal level. That makes metabolomics an indispensable tool for capturing an integrative profile of an individual’s liver function. As the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) continues to rise, researchers and health-care providers can look to Metabolon to provide much-needed non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic indicators as well as a fundamental understanding of pathological processes. The metabolome integrates an individual’s genetic makeup and gene expression profile with nongenetic factors such as diet, environmental exposures, and the microbiome. Therefore, layering metabolomic analysis onto genomic and transcriptomic data provides the best opportunity to understand disease.
Diabetes
Diabetes, a serious metabolic condition that results from the inability to regulate blood sugar levels, is a worldwide epidemic. According to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, more than 30 million Americans and 422 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes. Yet much remains unknown about how diabetes develops, why certain individuals are at increased risk, and whether the metabolic dysregulation can be corrected rather than merely managed.
Metabolomics enables simultaneous assessment of hundreds of compounds present in living systems, making it a critical tool that advances our understanding of disease mechanisms and opens doors to identify novel targets and treatments for conditions like diabetes.
Nutrition
Metabolomics can be essential for investigating the association between nutrition and health status, as metabolites represent a functional readout at the interface between diet and the complex metabolic systems that influence both health and disease. By illuminating the interactions of metabolites throughout the body within defined pathways, targeted metabolomics can help investigators gain new insights into the absorption and digestion of diet-derived macronutrients, monitor metabolism by various organ systems, and subsequently assess the underlying biology of various health and disease states.
Neuroscience
It is well-established that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet (KD) can help treat refractory epilepsy, which affects more than a third of epileptic patients who don’t respond to existing anticonvulsive drugs. What scientists haven’t understood until recently is how this kind of diet translates to brain activity. The answer for this aspect of epilepsy lies in the gut microbiome. There are many other neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease and more. While so much remains to be understood about brain science, we do know that metabolomics is uniquely poised to understand the brain because of the ability of metabolites, small molecules, to cross the blood-brain barrier providing unique insights.
COVID
Recognized for our cutting-edge approach to metabolomics, Metabolon has been a valued resource for COVID-19 researchers worldwide. Our actionable metabolomic insights have fueled pivotal and high-profile studies like the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) IMPACC study research to improve understanding of high-risk patients. These and other metabolomics projects are helping get closer to the phenotype and pressing forward on COVID-19 answers. Institute for Systems Biology research to improve understanding of high-risk patients. These and other metabolomics projects are helping get closer to the phenotype and pressing forward on COVID-19 answers.
Big Insights with Metabolon
Cited in over 3,000 publications, we help scientists and manufacturers gain greater insight into their studies through metabolomics. See how our approach can become a successful part of your workflow.
Related Metabolomics Resources
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