Insight on the Profile and Metabolism of Intramuscular Fatty Acids toward Modern Human Consumption: A Review

In regards with fast growing meat consumption in modernizing countries in the 20 th Century, recommendations for a public healthier eating were formulated. It is assumed that an increasing consumption of meat, whose fat composition is considered too high in saturated fatty acids (SFA) and too low in PUFA, constitutes a public health issu e. This paper aims to collect a comprehensive overview of existing information on some of the most important aspects of intramuscular fatty acid composition and metabolism in farm animals. Trends in healthy eating resulted in selection for leaner animals t hat has characterized the meat production industries in modern countries, affecting de facto meat eating and technological indices. Similar predictions would be drawn for emerging societies thus; more reflections are needed to deal with human health aspects of meat, without however affecting its eating quality and technological processing.