Medium- and Long-Chain Fatty Acids Analysis
With the advancement of metabolomics research, lipid metabolism, particularly the regulatory network involving medium- and long-chain fatty acids (MLCFAs), has become a crucial focal point for uncovering the mechanisms behind conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and tumors. Our platform specializes in targeted lipidomics analysis. Leveraging a high-performance LC-MS/MS platform, Creative Diagnostics provides accurate qualitative and absolute quantitative detection services for 51 types of medium- and long-chain fatty acids. This high-sensitivity, high-accuracy data supports your exploratory research and clinical translation studies.
Understanding Medium- and Long-Chain Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are essential fundamental molecules for all living organisms. They are broadly categorized into three groups based on carbon chain length: short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs, ≤5 carbon atoms), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs, 6-12 carbon atoms), and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs, ≥13 carbon atoms). The medium- and long-chain fatty acids that are the focus of our service play central roles in the body's energy metabolism, cell membrane structure, and signal transduction.
- Medium-Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs): Such as caprylic acid (C8:0) and capric acid (C10:0). Unlike long-chain fatty acids, MCFAs can be directly transported via the portal vein to the liver for rapid metabolism. This unique pathway gives them a special role in energy supply and metabolic regulation. Cutting-edge research indicates that MCFA intake can effectively induce the secretion of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) by the liver and small intestine. By activating its receptor GFRAL, this process can produce an appetite-suppressing effect, providing a molecular mechanism for its application in weight management and metabolic health.
- Long-Chain Fatty Acids (LCFAs): These include common types like oleic acid (OA, C18:1), linoleic acid (LA, C18:2), as well as EPA (C20:5) and DHA (C22:6) found in deep-sea fish oil. They are not only important forms of energy storage but also key signaling molecules. For example, many LCFAs and their derivatives (such as hydroxy fatty acids) act as endogenous agonists for free fatty acid receptors GPR40 and GPR120. By activating these receptors, they play significant roles in regulating insulin secretion, improving insulin resistance, and suppressing inflammatory responses.
Accurately measuring the dynamic changes of these fatty acids in biological samples is crucial for understanding their functions in both physiological and pathological processes. Current research on the roles of MCFAs and LCFAs includes their potential to lower blood lipids and cholesterol, and their fat-reducing properties which also suggest possible weight management benefits.
Our Services
We provide targeted quantitative analysis solutions based on stable isotope dilution-LC-MS/MS technology, ensuring data reliability and reproducibility.
We can perform one-time absolute quantitative analysis of over 51 types of medium- and long-chain fatty acids, covering saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated varieties, including but not limited to:
- Medium-Chain Fatty Acids: Caprylic acid (C8:0), capric acid (C10:0), etc.
- Long-Chain Saturated/Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), α-linolenic acid (C18:3), etc.
- Key Functional Fatty Acids: Arachidonic acid (ARA, C20:4), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6), etc.
Service Advantages
Our service is based on a high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) platform. By combining chemical derivatization with stable isotope-labeled internal standard technology, we achieve high-sensitivity (ng/mL level), high-accuracy (isotope internal standard calibration), and high-throughput (single-run analysis of over 51 targets) absolute quantitative analysis of MCFAs and LCFAs. This method offers strong specificity, effectively eliminating interference from complex matrices. We provide comprehensive professional support from project design to data analysis, ensuring you receive reliable and highly reproducible, high-quality data.
Workflow
We discuss research objectives to finalize the testing plan and sample requirements.
After you send the samples, our laboratory performs quality checks, pre-processing, and derivatization.
Targeted quantitative analysis is conducted using the LC-MS/MS platform to collect raw data.
Quantitative calculation and quality control are performed, culminating in the delivery of a professional report containing detailed results and interpretation.
Application
Our targeted metabolomics service for medium- and long-chain fatty acids is widely applicable in the following cutting-edge research and translational medicine fields:
- Mechanistic Research on Metabolic Diseases: Investigating the dysregulation of fatty acid metabolic profiles in diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to discover potential biomarkers.
- Cardiovascular Health Research: Analyzing the correlation between levels of specific polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., Omega-3/Omega-6) and cardiovascular risk, and evaluating the effects of dietary or pharmaceutical interventions.
- Nutritional & Food Science: Assessing the impact of different dietary sources on the body's fatty acid profile and studying the health benefits of functional lipids.
- Cancer Metabolism Research: Detecting changes in characteristic fatty acids during tumor metabolic reprogramming to provide clues for understanding tumor progression.
- Gut Microbiota-Host Interactions: Researching the regulatory effects of gut microbiota-derived fatty acids on host metabolism and immunity.
