Obesity is a disease caused by a disorder of energy homeostasis and is manifested as an excessive accumulation of fat. Almost all cases of obesity result from a combination of genetic predisposition and a chronic imbalance between energy intake, energy utilization for basic metabolic processes, and energy expenditure from physical activity. Obesity is a risk factor for major causes of death, including cardiovascular disease, numerous cancers, and diabetes, and is linked with markedly diminished life expectancy. Complication of obesity include metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors such as abdominal obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen), atherogenic dyslipidemia (high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol) and elevated blood pressure. The incidence of obesity has increased substantially in recent years and constantly growing number of obese patients necessitates the development of high requirements to reduce the impact of adverse health effects associated with metabolic syndrome. It is important therefore to examine the influence of nutrients, particularly fatiy acids, in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. The aim of our study was determine the influence of the high-carbohydrate diet on hepatic gene expression for Elovl 2, Elovl 5, Δ5 desaturase, Δ6 desaturase, Scd1 and Scd2. We demonstrated that mRNA expression level of Elovl 5, Δ5 desaturase, Δ6 desaturase and Scd2 in liver of rats fed high-carbohydrate diet was similar to the levels of mRNA for the same enzymes in liver of animals fed standard diet. Statistically significant differences in the levels of mRNA expression was demonstrated for elongases 2 and SCD1 (Δ9 desaturase-isoform 1).