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Quantification of Non-esterified Fatty Acids in Serum and Plasma

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Basic Protocols in Foods and Nutrition

Abstract

Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are the main components of triglycerides and are related to an adequate body energy balance. NEFA concentration is a direct indicator of the lipolysis rate of the body, and their deficiency in serum and blood plasma can lead to several physiological disorders, such as diabetes and insulin resistance. Therefore, determining and monitoring NEFA concentration is extremely valuable for diagnosing and controlling such diseases, and there are numerous analytical techniques for this purpose, each one with its peculiarities, benefits, and drawbacks. This chapter aims to bring the most common techniques for determining NEFAs in serum and plasma, detailing all the steps necessary for developing an analytical method, from sample preparation to method validation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP—Ph.D. grant for M.R.V.B., 2019/18748-8) and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES Foundation—Brazil) Financing Code 001.

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Correspondence to Stanislau Bogusz Junior .

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Bertolo, M.R.V., Bogusz Junior, S. (2022). Quantification of Non-esterified Fatty Acids in Serum and Plasma. In: Betim Cazarin, C.B. (eds) Basic Protocols in Foods and Nutrition. Methods and Protocols in Food Science . Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2345-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2345-9_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

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