Non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA)
For the quantitative in vitro determination of Nonesterified fatty acids in serum and plasma.
Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) serve the organism as source for metabolic energy, as substrate for cell membrane structures and as precursor for many intracellular signal molecules such as e.g. prostaglandins. Non-esterified fatty acids in blood mainly originate from lipolysis in adipose tissue, which is affected by diet and fluctuations of the insulin level. An increase of the NEFA concentration in pathological states like insulin resistance/diabetes type 2, adiposity, malignant diseases and the metabolic syndrome predict the development of cardiovascular diseases.
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