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Review
. 2014 Oct;51(10):2289-303.
doi: 10.1007/s13197-012-0677-0. Epub 2012 Mar 21.

Essential fatty acids as functional components of foods- a review

Narinder Kaur  1 , Vishal Chugh  2 , Anil K Gupta  1
Affiliations
Review

Essential fatty acids as functional components of foods- a review

Narinder Kaur et al. J Food Sci Technol. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

During the recent decades, awareness towards the role of essential fatty acids in human health and disease prevention has been unremittingly increasing among people. Fish, fish oils and some vegetable oils are rich sources of essential fatty acids. Many studies have positively correlated essential fatty acids with reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, infant development, cancer prevention, optimal brain and vision functioning, arthritis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and neurological/neuropsychiatric disorders. Beneficial effects may be mediated through several different mechanisms, including alteration in cell membrane composition, gene expression or eicosanoid production. However, the mechanisms whereby essential fatty acids affect gene expression are complex and involve multiple processes. Further understanding of the molecular aspects of essential fatty acids will be the key to devising novel approaches to the treatment and prevention of many diseases.

Keywords: Docosapentaenoic acid; Essential fatty acids; Functional foods; Omega-3 fatty acids; α-Linolenic acid.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Metabolic fate of essential fatty acids
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pathways for desaturation and chain elongation of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
γ-linolenic acid (GLA) metabolic flow scheme. Platelet activating factor (PAF) (Figure modified from Fan and Chapkin 1998)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Model for stimulation of DGLA-derived PGE1 biosynthesis by macrophages for further biological responses. Protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element binding proteins (CREB). CREB adapter binding protein (CBP), activation (+), inhibition (−), G protein stimulatory (Gs) (Figure modified from Fan and Chapkin 1998)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Action of arachidonic acid in central nervous system. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET)
Fig 6
Fig 6
Metabolic role of SREBP-SCAP complex. sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) and sterol responsive element (SRE)
Fig 7
Fig 7
Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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