Dyslipidemia is a characteristic of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The stage of CKD and associated cardiovascular disease and mortality are correlated to the severity of dyslipidemia. However, itis challenging to understand the lipid dysregulation process leading to CKD. The factors leading up to CKD-associated dyslipidemia result from a complex interaction between genetic, environmental, and kidney-specific factors. 

Modern lipidomic technologies work by systematically identifying and quantifying lipid species from biological systems. The overall architecture of free fatty acid divided between fatty acid oxidation and complex lipid fatty acid composition is a significant driver of CKD progression. Fatty acid profiles with shorter and more saturated species are linked to later stages of chronic kidney disease and predictive CKD. Besides, CKD progression is linked to metabolic inflexibility, making it difficult to utilize free fatty acids through β-oxidation. It leads to a change in the accumulating fatty acids to complex lipids such as triglycerides. 

Treatment interventions should target lipid abnormalities to improve kidney health and prevent CKD progression. 

Reference: Baek J, He C, Afshinnia F, et al. Lipidomic approaches to dissect dysregulated lipid metabolism in kidney disease. Nature Reviews Nephrology. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-021-00488-2