What are the Clinical Implications of Beta Oxidation Dysfunction?
Dysfunction in the beta oxidation pathway can lead to a variety of clinical conditions, including:
- Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders: These are genetic disorders where specific enzymes in the beta oxidation pathway are deficient or non-functional. Histologically, affected tissues may show lipid accumulation due to the inability to properly metabolize fatty acids. - Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Impaired beta oxidation in the liver can contribute to the development of NAFLD, characterized by fat accumulation in hepatocytes.
