Omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plants: same family different biological activity
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plants: same family different biological activity
Low intakes of the very long-chain n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are
common in most individuals living in Western countries. Seafood, especially oily fish, is a natural source
of these fatty acids, which are also found in fish oil capsules. Very long-chain n-3 fatty acids are readily
incorporated into transport, functional and storage pools. This incorporation is dose-dependent and
follows a kinetic pattern that is characteristic for each pool. Once they are incorporated at sufficiently
high levels, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid influence the physical nature of cell
membranes and membrane protein-mediated responses, lipid mediator generation, cell signalling, and
gene expression in many different cell types. By acting through these mechanisms, eicosapentaenoic
acid and docosahexaenoic acid influence cell and tissue physiology and the way cells and tissues
respond to external signals. This appears to result in improvements in disease biomarker profiles or
in health-related outcomes. Because of the recognized health improvements brought about by very
long-chain n-3 fatty acids, it has been recommended to increase their intake. There is also a plant n-3
fatty acid, ?-linolenic acid. This can be converted to eicosapentaenoic acid, whereas conversion to
docosahexaenoic acid appears to be poor in humans. The effects of ?-linolenic acid on human health
appear to be due to its conversion to eicosapentaenoic acid. Since this is limited in humans, there may
be little health benefit from moderately increased consumption of ?-linolenic acid as compared with
increased intake of preformed eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids.
alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, fish oil, cell membrane, human health
101-109
Calder, Philip C.
1797e54f-378e-4dcb-80a4-3e30018f07a6
2010
Calder, Philip C.
1797e54f-378e-4dcb-80a4-3e30018f07a6
Calder, Philip C.
(2010)
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish and plants: same family different biological activity.
Nutritional Therapy and Metabolism, 28 (3), .
Abstract
Low intakes of the very long-chain n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are
common in most individuals living in Western countries. Seafood, especially oily fish, is a natural source
of these fatty acids, which are also found in fish oil capsules. Very long-chain n-3 fatty acids are readily
incorporated into transport, functional and storage pools. This incorporation is dose-dependent and
follows a kinetic pattern that is characteristic for each pool. Once they are incorporated at sufficiently
high levels, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid influence the physical nature of cell
membranes and membrane protein-mediated responses, lipid mediator generation, cell signalling, and
gene expression in many different cell types. By acting through these mechanisms, eicosapentaenoic
acid and docosahexaenoic acid influence cell and tissue physiology and the way cells and tissues
respond to external signals. This appears to result in improvements in disease biomarker profiles or
in health-related outcomes. Because of the recognized health improvements brought about by very
long-chain n-3 fatty acids, it has been recommended to increase their intake. There is also a plant n-3
fatty acid, ?-linolenic acid. This can be converted to eicosapentaenoic acid, whereas conversion to
docosahexaenoic acid appears to be poor in humans. The effects of ?-linolenic acid on human health
appear to be due to its conversion to eicosapentaenoic acid. Since this is limited in humans, there may
be little health benefit from moderately increased consumption of ?-linolenic acid as compared with
increased intake of preformed eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids.
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More information
Published date: 2010
Keywords:
alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, fish oil, cell membrane, human health
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 190957
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/190957
ISSN: 0393-5585
PURE UUID: 5c7c0b39-3c33-4b97-ba94-18138108a74b
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Date deposited: 16 Jun 2011 11:26
Last modified: 31 May 2023 01:33
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