Timely Topics in Nutrition An overview of fatty acids in companion animal medicine

Fatty acids have a number of important roles in the body. These include, among others, serving as a source of fuel, transporting fat-soluble vitamins, serving structural functions as part of cell membranes, and being involved in cell regulation and signaling. Fatty acids are also used for management of disease, giving them a unique role as a nutraceutical, which is a nutrient that has properties of a drug.1,2 The objective of the information reported here is to provide an overview of topics related to fatty acids and to improve general understanding of these topics. & 2015 American Veterinary Medical Association. All rights reserved.