Essential fatty acids and their derivatives

[Guest guest]

Volume 21(2) March 2005 pp 207-215

Essential fatty acids and their derivatives

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review will address recent research in metabolism of essential fatty acids and their long chain derivatives. Our main focus will be the association between essential fatty acid status and various disease states, as well as the effects of supplementation with essential fatty acids or their derivatives on a number of clinical outcomes.

Recent findings: There have been several papers over the last few years that show links between supplementation with fish oil (n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) and cardiovascular disease. Recent data suggest that the use of fish oil (containing n-3 fatty acids) in a variety of disorders such as cystic fibrosis, coronary disease and in the prevention of sudden death is beneficial. Several papers show reductions in systemic markers of inflammation. More widespread use of essential fatty acid derivatives in infant formula can certainly be questioned on the basis of the recent data. Fewer benefits are seen with ingestion of the essential fatty acids themselves, likely related to limited conversion to their long chain derivatives in humans.

Summary: Derivatives of essential fatty acids have the potential to modify a number of disease states, either ingested in greater quantities in the diet, or taken as supplements in the form of fish oil.

Conclusions

....Use of n-3 PUFA in cancer prevention remains largely unexplored. Finally, long chain derivatives of alpha linolenic acid have far more potent effects than use of the designated ‘essential’ fatty acid itself.

[Guest guest]

FYI:

Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2005 Mar;21(2):207-15.

PMID: 15711215 Essential fatty acids and their derivatives.McCowen, C; Bistrian, Bruce R

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review will address recent research in metabolism of essential fatty acids and their long chain derivatives. Our main focus will be the association between essential fatty acid status and various disease states, as well as the effects of supplementation with essential fatty acids or their derivatives on a number of clinical outcomes.

Recent findings: There have been several papers over the last few years that show links between supplementation with fish oil (n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) and cardiovascular disease. Recent data suggest that the use of fish oil (containing n-3 fatty acids) in a variety of disorders such as cystic fibrosis, coronary disease and in the prevention of sudden death is beneficial. Several papers show reductions in systemic markers of inflammation. More widespread use of essential fatty acid derivatives in infant formula can certainly be questioned on the basis of the recent data. Fewer benefits are seen with ingestion of the essential fatty acids themselves, likely related to limited conversion to their long chain derivatives in humans.

Summary: Derivatives of essential fatty acids have the potential to modify a number of disease states, either ingested in greater quantities in the diet, or taken as supplements in the form of fish oil.

Only two specific fatty acids are generally considered to be “essential.” They are both long chain (18 carbon) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that cannot be synthesized by mammals. Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) is the precursor of the n-3 family of PUFA, in which the first double bond in the molecule is 3 carbons away from the methyl terminus. Linoleic acid (LA) is the precursor of the n-6 PUFA family, in which the first double bond in the molecule is 6 carbons from the methyl terminus. Mammals lack the requisite enzymes to insert a double bond at the n-3 or n-6 position (counting from the methyl end) of the fatty acid chain.

Dietary consumption of essential fatty acids

Despite the promotion over the past 20 years of low fat diets in adults to enhance weight loss and reduce coronary risk, inadequate consumption of essential fats is extremely rare, because a corollary of this recommendation was to increase the intake of vegetable oils rich in LA.

Essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) is defined as a triene/tetraene ratio > 0.2 and calculated by eicosatrienoic acid/arachidonic acid (AA). This is a very unlikely scenario in healthy individuals, as EFAD can be avoided with as little as 2% of dietary energy from LA.