Essential fatty acids: biochemistry, physiology and pathology

Essential fatty acids (EFAs), linoleic acid (LA), and α‐linolenic acid (ALA) are essential for humans, and are freely available in the diet. Hence, EFA deficiency is extremely rare in humans. To derive the full benefits of EFAs, they need to be metabolized to their respective long‐chain metabolites,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biotechnology journal 2006-04, Vol.1 (4), p.420-439
Main Author: Das, Undurti N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alpha/gamma-linolenic acid
Animals
Arachidonic acid
Atherosclerosis - metabolism
Dietary Fats - metabolism
Eicosapentaenoic acid
Essential fatty acids
Fatty Acids, Essential - metabolism
Humans
Inflammation - metabolism
Linoleic acid
Metabolic Diseases - metabolism
Nervous System Diseases - metabolism
Obesity - metabolism
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Essential fatty acids (EFAs), linoleic acid (LA), and α‐linolenic acid (ALA) are essential for humans, and are freely available in the diet. Hence, EFA deficiency is extremely rare in humans. To derive the full benefits of EFAs, they need to be metabolized to their respective long‐chain metabolites, i.e., dihomo‐γ‐linolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA) from LA; and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from ALA. Some of these long‐chain metabolites not only form precursors to respective prostaglandins (PGs), thromboxanes (TXs), and leukotrienes (LTs), but also give rise to lipoxins (LXs) and resolvins that have potent anti‐inflammatory actions. Furthermore, EFAs and their metabolites may function as endogenous angiotensin‐converting enzyme and 3‐hdroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, nitric oxide (NO) enhancers, anti‐hypertensives, and anti‐atherosclerotic molecules. Recent studies revealed that EFAs react with NO to yield respective nitroalkene derivatives that exert cell‐signaling actions via ligation and activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors. The metabolism of EFAs is altered in several diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Thus, EFAs and their derivatives have varied biological actions and seem to be involved in several physiological and pathological processes.
ISSN:1860-6768
1860-7314
DOI:10.1002/biot.200600012