Page last updated: 2024-11-05

phytanic acid

Description Research Excerpts Clinical Trials Roles Classes Pathways Study Profile Bioassays Related Drugs Related Conditions Protein Interactions Research Growth Market Indicators

Description

Phytanic acid is a branched-chain fatty acid that is primarily obtained from the diet, particularly from dairy products and ruminant meat. It is synthesized in the body from phytol, a precursor found in chlorophyll. Phytanic acid is not readily metabolized by humans due to the presence of a tertiary carbon atom at the beta position, which prevents the normal oxidation process. Accumulation of phytanic acid in the body can lead to a genetic disorder called Refsum disease, characterized by neurological abnormalities, retinitis pigmentosa, and skeletal deformities. Phytanic acid is a major component of the plasmalogens, a class of phospholipids that are important for cell membrane structure and function. The study of phytanic acid is crucial for understanding lipid metabolism, the pathogenesis of Refsum disease, and the development of potential treatments for this rare genetic disorder.'

Phytanic Acid: A 20-carbon branched chain fatty acid. In phytanic acid storage disease (REFSUM DISEASE) this lipid may comprise as much as 30% of the total fatty acids of the plasma. This is due to a phytanic acid alpha-hydroxylase deficiency. [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]

phytanic acid : A branched-chain saturated fatty acid consisting of hexadecanoic acid carrying methyl substituents at positions 3, 7, 11 and 15. [Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Cross-References

ID SourceID
PubMed CID26840
CHEMBL ID4853893
CHEBI ID16285
SCHEMBL ID7888
MeSH IDM0016816

Synonyms (36)

Synonym
gtpl2813
CHEBI:16285
3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadecanoic acid
3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadecansaeure
3,7,11,15-tetramethyl hexadecanoic acid
hexadecanoic acid, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-
dtxsid80864526 ,
phytanic acid
hexadecanoic acid,7,11,15-tetramethyl-
14721-66-5
3,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid
nsc-108698
nsc108698
3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid
C01607
phytanoic acid
unii-8oye5tf5vl
8oye5tf5vl ,
nsc 108698
SCHEMBL7888
bdbm119875
3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-1-hexadecanoic acid
HMS3649L09
J-008329
3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecoanoic acid
3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadecanoate
3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecoanoate
phytanoate
Q421171
SR-01000946672-1
sr-01000946672
D86399
AS-82571
CHEMBL4853893
CS-0059480
HY-113067

Research Excerpts

Overview

Phytanic acid is a branched-chain fatty acid found predominantly in red meat and dairy products. The level of this acid is elevated in patients with a variety of peroxisomal disorders, including Refsum disease, and Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata type 1 and 5.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Phytanic acid is a branched-chain fatty acid, the level of which is elevated in patients with a variety of peroxisomal disorders, including Refsum disease, and Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata type 1 and 5. "( Identification and diagnostic value of phytanoyl- and pristanoyl-carnitine in plasma from patients with peroxisomal disorders.
Ferdinandusse, S; Herzog, K; van Lenthe, H; Vaz, FM; Wanders, RJA; Waterham, HR, 2017
)
1.9
"Phytanic acid is a saturated branched-chain fatty acid found predominantly in red meat and dairy products, and may contribute to the elevated risks of prostate cancer associated with higher consumption of these foods. "( Serum phytanic and pristanic acid levels and prostate cancer risk in Finnish smokers.
Albanes, D; Gann, PH; Männistö, S; Moser, AB; Snyder, K; Weinstein, SJ; Wright, ME, 2014
)
1.85
"Phytanic acid is a branched fatty acid that is a metabolic intermediate of chlorophyll. "( Phytanic acid induces Neuro2a cell death via histone deacetylase activation and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Nagai, K,
)
3.02
"Phytanic acid is a methyl-branched fatty acid present in the human diet, derived from the enzymatic degradation of phytol and subsequently oxidized by the rumenal microbiota and certain marine organisms. "( Phytanic acid consumption and human health, risks, benefits and future trends: A review.
Cepeda, A; Franco, CM; Lamas, A; Mariño-Lorenzo, P; Miranda, JM; Porto-Arias, JJ; Roca-Saavedra, P; Vazquez, BI, 2017
)
3.34
"Phytanic acid is a branched-chain, saturated fatty acid present in high concentrations in dairy products and ruminant fat. "( Phytol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.
Atshaves, BP; Kier, AB; Mackie, JT; McIntosh, AL; Payne, HR; Schroeder, F, 2009
)
1.8
"Phytanic acid is a multibranched fatty acid with reported retinoid X receptor (RXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) agonist activity, which have been suggested to have preventive effects on metabolic dysfunctions. "( Phytanic acid--an overlooked bioactive fatty acid in dairy fat?
Hellgren, LI, 2010
)
3.25
"Phytanic acid is a saturated fatty acid found predominantly in red meat and dairy products and may contribute to increases in prostate cancer risk that are observed with higher intakes of these foods. "( Estimated phytanic acid intake and prostate cancer risk: a prospective cohort study.
Albanes, D; Bowen, P; Gann, PH; Virtamo, J; Wright, ME, 2012
)
2.22
"Phytanic acid (PA) is a bioactive compound found in milk that is derived from the phytol chain of chlorophyll, and the content of PA in milk fat depends on the availability of phytol from feed. "( Content and distribution of phytanic acid diastereomers in organic milk as affected by feed composition.
Che, BN; Dalsgaard, TK; Hellgren, LI; Kristensen, T; Larsen, MK; Nebel, C; Young, JF, 2013
)
2.13
"Phytanic acid (PA) is a chlorophyll metabolite with potentials in regulating glucose metabolism, as it is a natural ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) that is known to regulate hepatic glucose homeostasis. "( Phytanic acid stimulates glucose uptake in a model of skeletal muscles, the primary porcine myotubes.
Che, BN; Hellgren, LI; Nielsen, JH; Oksbjerg, N; Young, JF, 2013
)
3.28
"Phytanic acid is a derivative of the phytol side-chain of chlorophyll. "( The chlorophyll-derived metabolite phytanic acid induces white adipocyte differentiation.
Giralt, M; Iglesias, R; Schlüter, A; Villarroya, F; Yubero, P, 2002
)
2.03
"Phytanic acid is a 3-methyl branched-chain fatty acid which originates from dietary sources. "( Characterization of phytanic acid omega-hydroxylation in human liver microsomes.
Duran, M; Komen, JC; Wanders, RJ, 2005
)
2.09
"Phytanic acid is a saturated branched-chain fatty acid, which is formed by bacterial degradation of chlorophyll in the intestinal tract of ruminants. "( Mechanism of toxicity of the branched-chain fatty acid phytanic acid, a marker of Refsum disease, in astrocytes involves mitochondrial impairment.
Kahlert, S; Reiser, G; Schönfeld, P,
)
1.82
"Phytanic acid is a branched-chain fatty acid that accumulates in a variety of metabolic disorders. "( Phytanic acid: production from phytol, its breakdown and role in human disease.
van den Brink, DM; Wanders, RJ, 2006
)
3.22
"Phytanic acid is a saturated, branched-chain fatty acid which as a consequence of the presence of a methyl group at the 3-position cannot be degraded by beta-oxidation. "( 2-Hydroxyphytanic acid oxidase activity in rat and human liver and its deficiency in the Zellweger syndrome.
Jakobs, C; Schor, DS; ten Brink, HJ; van Roermund, CW; Wanders, RJ, 1994
)
2.15
"Phytanic acid is a methyl-branched fatty acid present in the human diet. "( Human metabolism of phytanic acid and pristanic acid.
Jakobs, C; Verhoeven, NM, 2001
)
2.08

Effects

Phytanic acid (PA) has been implicated in development of cancer. Its defective metabolism is known to cause life-threatening conditions, such as Refsum disease, in children.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Phytanic acid (PA) has been implicated in development of cancer and its defective metabolism is known to cause life-threatening conditions, such as Refsum disease, in children. "( Phytanic acid activates NADPH oxidase through transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Akhtar, S; Alsaeid, M; Dhaunsi, GS, 2016
)
3.32
"Phytanic acid has been suggested to be causally involved in the clinical symptoms."( Mechanism of toxicity of the branched-chain fatty acid phytanic acid, a marker of Refsum disease, in astrocytes involves mitochondrial impairment.
Kahlert, S; Reiser, G; Schönfeld, P,
)
1.1
"Phytanic acid accumulation has for more than 20 years been used as a diagnostic criterion of Refsum's disease. "( Clinical and biochemical heterogeneity in conditions with phytanic acid accumulation.
Norseth, J; Petit, H; Refsum, S; Skjeldal, OH; Stokke, O, 1987
)
1.96

Actions

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Phytanic acid (Phyt) increase is associated with the hereditary neurodegenerative Refsum disease. "( Rotenone-like action of the branched-chain phytanic acid induces oxidative stress in mitochondria.
Reiser, G; Schönfeld, P, 2006
)
2.04

Compound-Compound Interactions

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"The proposed therapeutical effect of phytol (PHY), a precursor of the phytanic acid (PHYA), on mammary tumours induced with 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU), was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats in combination with vitamin D analogue, Seocalcitol (SEO)."( Morphology of 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea induced rat mammary tumours after treatment with precursor of phytanic acid or its combination with vitamin D analogue.
Brtko, J; Liska, J; Macejova, D; Ondkova, S, 2012
)
0.83
"No redifferentiating effect on mammary tumour cells induced by NMU after treatment with PHY alone or in combination with SEO was observed in rats."( Morphology of 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea induced rat mammary tumours after treatment with precursor of phytanic acid or its combination with vitamin D analogue.
Brtko, J; Liska, J; Macejova, D; Ondkova, S, 2012
)
0.6
[information is derived through text-mining from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Drug Classes (3)

ClassDescription
branched-chain saturated fatty acidAny saturated fatty acid with a carbon side-chain or isopropyl termination.
long-chain fatty acidA fatty acid with a chain length ranging from C13 to C22.
methyl-branched fatty acidAny branched-chain fatty acid containing methyl branches only.
[compound class information is derived from Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]

Pathways (8)

PathwayProteinsCompounds
Metabolism14961108
Metabolism of lipids500463
Fatty acid metabolism113203
Peroxisomal lipid metabolism2552
Alpha-oxidation of phytanate625
Oxidation of Branched-Chain Fatty Acids1122
Phytanic Acid Peroxisomal Oxidation620
Refsum Disease620

Protein Targets (2)

Inhibition Measurements

ProteinTaxonomyMeasurementAverageMin (ref.)Avg (ref.)Max (ref.)Bioassay(s)
Fatty acid-binding protein, liverRattus norvegicus (Norway rat)Ki0.03670.01501.24876.9200AID1800412
Fatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)Ki0.03670.01501.47708.1700AID1800412
[prepared from compound, protein, and bioassay information from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Biological Processes (10)

Processvia Protein(s)Taxonomy
long-chain fatty acid transportFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
positive regulation of fatty acid beta-oxidationFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
response to vitamin B3Fatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
negative regulation of apoptotic processFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
negative regulation of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity involved in apoptotic processFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
intestinal absorptionFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
cellular response to hydrogen peroxideFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
cellular response to hypoxiaFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
cellular oxidant detoxificationFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
fatty acid transportFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
[Information is prepared from geneontology information from the June-17-2024 release]

Molecular Functions (9)

Processvia Protein(s)Taxonomy
chromatin bindingFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
long-chain fatty acid transmembrane transporter activityFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
protein bindingFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
phospholipid bindingFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
antioxidant activityFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
bile acid bindingFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
oleic acid bindingFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
heterocyclic compound bindingFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
fatty acid bindingFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
[Information is prepared from geneontology information from the June-17-2024 release]

Ceullar Components (7)

Processvia Protein(s)Taxonomy
nucleoplasmFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
peroxisomal matrixFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
cytosolFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
apical cortexFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
extracellular exosomeFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
protein-containing complexFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
nucleusFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
cytosolFatty acid-binding protein, liverHomo sapiens (human)
[Information is prepared from geneontology information from the June-17-2024 release]

Bioassays (4)

Assay IDTitleYearJournalArticle
AID1800412ANS Fluorescence Displacement Assay from Article 10.1021/bi401014k: \\The human liver fatty acid binding protein T94A variant alters the structure, stability, and interaction with fibrates.\\2013Biochemistry, Dec-23, Volume: 52, Issue:51
The human liver fatty acid binding protein T94A variant alters the structure, stability, and interaction with fibrates.
AID1346763Mouse Retinoid X receptor-alpha (2B. Retinoid X receptors)2001Biochimica et biophysica acta, Oct-31, Volume: 1521, Issue:1-3
Phytanic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increase the metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid and CYP26 gene expression in intestinal cells.
AID1346763Mouse Retinoid X receptor-alpha (2B. Retinoid X receptors)1996European journal of biochemistry, Feb-15, Volume: 236, Issue:1
Phytanic acid is a retinoid X receptor ligand.
AID1768534Binding affinity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis CYP124A1 by UV-visible spectrophotometric analysis2021Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, 08-15, Volume: 44Synthesis and interaction of terminal unsaturated chemical probes with Mycobacterium tuberculosis CYP124A1.
[information is prepared from bioassay data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Research

Studies (420)

TimeframeStudies, This Drug (%)All Drugs %
pre-1990114 (27.14)18.7374
1990's122 (29.05)18.2507
2000's103 (24.52)29.6817
2010's65 (15.48)24.3611
2020's16 (3.81)2.80
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Market Indicators

Research Demand Index: 51.77

According to the monthly volume, diversity, and competition of internet searches for this compound, as well the volume and growth of publications, there is estimated to be very strong demand-to-supply ratio for research on this compound.

MetricThis Compound (vs All)
Research Demand Index51.77 (24.57)
Research Supply Index6.08 (2.92)
Research Growth Index4.46 (4.65)
Search Engine Demand Index83.73 (26.88)
Search Engine Supply Index2.00 (0.95)

This Compound (51.77)

All Compounds (24.57)

Study Types

Publication TypeThis drug (%)All Drugs (%)
Trials3 (0.69%)5.53%
Reviews49 (11.26%)6.00%
Case Studies94 (21.61%)4.05%
Observational0 (0.00%)0.25%
Other289 (66.44%)84.16%
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]