IISc. study offers new insight into how fatty acid uptake is regulated in cardiomyocytes

Fatty acids are formed when the fat in our diet breaks down during digestion

A recent study, published in Cell Reports, by a team of researchers from India and the U.S., led by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), provides important insights into how fatty acid uptake is regulated in cardiomyocytes. Fatty acids are formed when the fat in our diet breaks down during digestion. According to an IISc. release, while many of the body’s organs use glucose as their primary energy source, the heart derives most of its required energy (over 70%) from the oxidation of fatty acids. These are crucial for sustaining cardiomyocytes – cardiac muscle cells that control the rhythmic beating of the heart. However, accumulation of excess fatty acids in cardiomyocytes triggers harmful responses, often leading to severe cardiac diseases.