Causes and consequences of lipid overload in skeletal muscle, liver and heart

With obesity, fat begins to accumulate in tissues other than adipose tissue (ectopic fat accumulation). This can have adverse health effects (lipotoxicity) and is believed to play an important role in the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes. This dissertation examined why fat accumulates in ectopic tissues such as muscles, the liver and the heart, and the role free fatty acids play in this process. It also examined the effect of fat accumulation on organ function. The study found that, while free fatty acids play a key role in the accumulation of fat, fat accumulation does not always lead to organ dysfunction.