Abstract

Nutrition plays a vital role in human health, particularly through the type and quality of dietary fats. While excessive saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake is associated with negative cardiovascular outcomes, unsaturated fats especially monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) offer protective benefits. Among the bioactive lipids derived from unsaturated fats are nitrated fatty acids (NO2-FAs), electrophilic signaling molecules formed naturally during inflammation or via dietary interactions between nitrite-rich vegetables and unsaturated lipids. NO2-FAs have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiplatelet effects, influencing metabolic pathways involved in cardiometabolic health. This review explores the formation, metabolism, and biological actions of NO2-FAs from dietary sources, emphasizing their role within dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet. By bridging lipid biochemistry and nutritional science, we underscore the therapeutic potential of NO2-FAs as diet-derived agents for disease prevention and treatment in metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.