Abstract: MicroRNA is an evolutionary conservative non-coding RNA with only single strand, and plays a role in regulating various biological functions. Fatty acid metabolism is one of the important material and energy metabolisms in living organisms, and closely related to human health. In recent years, many studies have revealed that microRNA is closely related to the regulation of fatty acid metabolism. This paper reviewed the regulatory relation between microRNAs and fatty acid catabolism-related genes (carnitine palmitoyl transferase I, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors, lipoprotein lipase and hormone sensitive lipase), and fatty acid anabolism related genes (fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and sterol regulatory element-binding protein).

Key words: fatty acid metabolism, gene, microRNAs, regulation