Docosahexaenoic Acid Abundance in the Brain: A biodevice to Combat Oxidative Stress

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid of the n−3 series which is believed to be a molecular target for lipid peroxides (LPO) formation. Its ubiquitous nature in the nervous tissue renders it particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, which is high in brain during normal...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nutritional neuroscience 2002, Vol.5 (3), p.149-157
Main Authors: Yavin, Ephraim, Brand, Annette, Green, Pnina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aldehydes - metabolism
Antioxidants
Brain - metabolism
Brain Chemistry
Docosahexaenoic acid
Docosahexaenoic Acids - chemistry
Docosahexaenoic Acids - metabolism
Fatty Acids - analysis
Fatty Acids - chemistry
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - metabolism
Humans
Lipid Peroxidation
Oxidation-Reduction
Oxidative Stress
Oxygen Consumption
Phospholipids
Plasmalogens
Reactive oxygen species
Reactive Oxygen Species - 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:Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid of the n−3 series which is believed to be a molecular target for lipid peroxides (LPO) formation. Its ubiquitous nature in the nervous tissue renders it particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, which is high in brain during normal activity because of high oxygen consumption and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under steady state conditions potentially harmful ROS and LPO are maintained at low levels due to a strong antioxidant defense mechanism, which involves several enzymes and low molecular weight reducing compounds. The present review emphasizes a paradox: a discrepancy between the expected high oxidability of the DHA molecule due to its high degree of unsaturation and certain experimental results which would indicate no change or even decreased lipid peroxidation when brain tissue is supplied or enriched with DHA. The following is a critical review of the experimental data relating DHA levels in the brain to lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage there. A neuroprotective role for DHA, possibly in association with the vinyl ether (VE) linkage of plasmalogens (pPLs) in combating free radicals is proposed.
ISSN:1028-415X
1476-8305
DOI:10.1080/10284150290003159