Fatty acids a-linolenic acid

Recent investigations of hemp seed oil (5, 11, 12) reported similar findings in fatty acid compositions. The n-3 fatty acid, a-linolenic acid, was determined to constitute between 15.1% and 19.4% of total fat (Table 2). Gamma-linolenic acid (18 3n-6) was also detected in two of the studies, and comprised up to 3.6% of total fatty acids (11, 12) (Table 2). The most prevalent fatty acid was linoleic in all of the studies, which was between 53.4% and 60.0% of total fatty acids and was followed by a-linolenic, oleic, palmitic, y-linolenic, and stearic acids. Eicosadienoic, arachi-dic (20 0), and behenic (22 0) acids were also detected in small quantities. 

Health benehts of minor lipid components, such as tocopherols, sterols, and certain fatty acids (co-3 fatty acids [a-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)], y-linolenic acid, and conjugated linoleic acid) have been widely investigated in recent years (1, 2). Increasing evidence of health benehts of these lipid components coupled with changing consumer attitudes (increased awareness of diet-health link and increased tendency to self-medicate). 

Effect of human milk, and the role of milk constituents (e.g. n3/n6 fatty acids, a-linolenic acid and cytokines) in the development of sensitisation and clinical manifestations of allergy. 

Polyunsaturated fatty acids with double bonds three carbons from the methyl end (w3 fatty acids) and six carbons from the methyl end (w6 fatty acids) are required for the synthesis of eicosanoids (see Chapter 35). Because humans cannot synthesize these fatty acids de novo (i.e., from glucose via palmitate), they must be present in the diet or the diet must contain other fatty acids that can be converted to these fatty acids. We obtain w6 and w3 polyunsaturated fatty acids mainly from dietary plant oils that contain the w6 fatty acid linoleic acid (18 2, and the w3 fatty acid a-linolenic acid (18 3, In the body, linoleic acid can be converted by elongation and desatura-... 

The other essential fatty acid, a-linolenic acid (18 3, A9,12,15), also forms eicosanoids. 

Detailed accounts of the biosynthesis of the prostanoids have been pubUshed (14—17). Under normal circumstances arachidonic acid (AA) is the most abundant C-20 fatty acid m vivo (18—21) which accounts for the predominance of the prostanoids containing two double bonds eg, PGE2 (see Fig. 1). Prostanoids of the one and three series are biosynthesized from dihomo-S-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acids, respectively. Concentrations ia human tissue of the one-series precursor, dihomo-S-linolenic acid, are about one-fourth those of AA (22) and the presence of PGE has been noted ia a variety of tissues (23). The biosynthesis of the two-series prostaglandins from AA is shown ia Eigure 1. These reactions make up a portion of what is known as the arachidonic acid cascade. Other Hpid products of the cascade iaclude the leukotrienes, lipoxins, and the hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Collectively, these substances are termed eicosanoids. 

Lipids. Representative fatty acid compositions of the unprocessed triglyceride oils found in the four oilseeds are given in Table 4 (see Fats and FATTY oils). Cottonseed, peanut, and sundower oils are classified as oleic—linoleic acid oils because of the high (>50%) content of these fatty acids. Although the oleic and linoleic acid content of soybean oils is high, it is distinguished from the others by a content of 4—10% of linolenic acid, and hence is called a linolenic acid oil. 

Shorthand notations have been developed to avoid repetitive systematic names of unsaturated fatty acids. Eor example, linolenic or (7j -9,i7j -12-,i7j -15-octadecatrienoic acid can be represented by 18 3(9, 12, 15 ). The Greek letter A has been used to indicate presence and position of double bonds, eg a fatty acid, but it should never be used in a systematic name. An equally inappropriate but popular designation is derived by counting... 

Conjugation as well as geometric and positional isomerization occur when an alkadienoic acid such as linoleic acid is treated with a strong base at an elevated temperature. CycHc fatty acids result from isomerization of linolenic acid ia strong base at about 250°C (58). Conjugated fatty acids undergo the Diels-Alder reaction with many dienophiles including ethylene, propylene, acryUc acid, and maleic anhydride. 

Some fatty acids are not synthesized by mammals and yet are necessary for normal growth and life. These essential fatty aeids include llnoleic and y-linolenic acids. These must be obtained by mammals in their diet (specifically from plant sources). Arachidonic acid, which is not found in plants, can only be synthesized by mammals from linoleic acid. At least one function of the essential fatty acids is to serve as a precursor for the synthesis of eicosanoids, such as... 

Organisms differ with respect to formation, processing, and utilization of polyunsaturated fatty acids. E. coli, for example, does not have any polyunsaturated fatty acids. Eukaryotes do synthesize a variety of polyunsaturated fatty acids, certain organisms more than others. For example, plants manufacture double bonds between the A and the methyl end of the chain, but mammals cannot. Plants readily desaturate oleic acid at the 12-position (to give linoleic acid) or at both the 12- and 15-positions (producing linolenic acid). Mammals require polyunsaturated fatty acids, but must acquire them in their diet. As such, they are referred to as essential fatty acids. On the other hand, mammals can introduce double bonds between the double bond at the 8- or 9-posi-tion and the carboxyl group. Enzyme complexes in the endoplasmic reticulum desaturate the 5-position, provided a double bond exists at the 8-position, and form a double bond at the 6-position if one already exists at the 9-position. Thus, oleate can be unsaturated at the 6,7-position to give an 18 2 d5-A ,A fatty acid. 

CH3CH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH=CHCH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2COH Linolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid... 

Linoleic and a-linolenic acids are the only fatty acids known to be essential for the complete nutrition of many species of animals, including humans, and are known as the nutritionally essential fatty acids. In most mammals, arachidonic acid can be formed from linoleic acid (Figure 23-4). Double bonds can be intro-... 

Figure 23-1. Structure of some unsaturated fatty acids. Although the carbon atoms in the molecules are conventionally numbered—ie, numbered from the carboxyl terminal—the co numbers (eg, co7 in palmitoleic acid) are calculated from the reverse end (the methyl terminal) of the molecules. The information in parentheses shows, for instance, that a-linolenic acid contains double bonds starting at the third carbon from the methyl terminal, has 18 carbons and 3 double bonds, and has these double bonds at the 9th, 12th, and 15th carbons from the carboxyl terminal. (Asterisks Classified as "essential fatty acids.")...

Rats fed a purified nonlipid diet containing vitamins A and D exhibit a reduced growth rate and reproductive deficiency which may be cured by the addition of linoleic, a-linolenic, and arachidonic acids to the diet. These fatty acids are found in high concentrations in vegetable oils (Table 14-2) and in small amounts in animal carcasses. These essential fatty acids are required for prostaglandin, thromboxane, leukotriene, and lipoxin formation (see below), and they also have various other functions which are less well defined. Essential fatty acids are found in the stmctural lipids of the cell, often in the 2 position of phospholipids, and are concerned with the structural integrity of the mitochondrial membrane. 

There are three groups of eicosanoids that are synthesized from C20 eicosanoic acids derived from the essential fatty acids linoleate and a-linolenate, or directly from dietary arachidonate and eicosapentaenoate (Figure 23-5). Arachidonate, usually derived from the 2 position of phospholipids in the plasma membrane by the action of phospholipase Aj (Figure 24-6)—but also from the diet—is the substrate for the synthesis of the PG2, 1X2 series (prostanoids) by the cyclooxygenase pathway, or the LT4 and LX4 series by the lipoxygenase pathway, with the two pathways competing for the arachidonate substrate (Figure 23-5). 

Highet animals have A, A, A, and desatutases but cannot insert new double bonds beyond the 9 position of fatty acids. Thus, the essential fatty acids hnoleic ((o6) and a-linolenic ((03) must be obtained from the diet. 

Figure 1.7 Typical zero-order and corresponding second-derivative electronic absorption spectra of ethanol-reconstituted lipid/chloroform extracts of autoxidized model polyunsaturated fatty-acid compounds and inflammatory synovial fluid obtained after (1) reduction with NaBH4 and (2) dehydration with alcoholic H2S04- (a) Methyl linoleate subsequent to autoxidation in air at ambient temperature for a period of 72 h (—), or exposure to a Fenton reaction system containing EDTA (5.75 x 10 mol/dm ), H2O2 (1.14 X 10 mol/dm ) and Fe(ll) (5.75 x IO mol/dm ) as an aqueous suspension (—) (b) as (a) but with methyl linolenate (c) untreated rheumatoid knee-joint synovial fluid.

The major fatty acids present in plant-derived fatty substances are oleic acid (9-octadecenoic, C18 l), linoleic acid (9,12-octadecadienoic, C18 2) and the conjugated isomers thereof and linolenic acid (9,12,15-octadecatrienoic, C18 3) (Scheme 31.1). Their rates of oxygen absorption are 100 40 1, respectively, hence partial hydrogenation with consequent lowering of the iodine number would lead to a significant increase in oxidative stabihty, particularly when C18 3 is reduced. 

The essential fatty acids in humans are linoleic acid (C-18 2 N-6) and a-linolenic acid (C18 3 N-3). Arachidonic acid (C20 4 N-6) is also essential but can be synthesized from linoleic acid. Administration of 2% to 4% of total daily calories as linoleic acid should be adequate to prevent essential fatty acid deficiency in adults (e.g., infusion of 500 mL of 20% intravenous lipid emulsion once weekly).7 Biochemical evidence of essential fatty acid deficiency can develop in about 2 to 4 weeks in adult patients receiving lipid-free PN, and clinical manifestations generally appear after an additional... 

Essential fatty acid deficiency Deficiency of linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and/or arachidonic acid, characterized by hair loss, thinning of skin, and skin desquamation. Long-chain fatty acids include trienes (containing three double-bonds [e.g., 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid, or Mead acid trienoic acids) and tetraenes (containing four doublebonds [e.g., arachidonic acid]). Biochemical evidence of essential fatty acid deficiency includes a trieneitetraene ratio greater than 0.4 and low linoleic or arachidonic acid plasma concentrations. 

C12 to C20, primarily Ci6 to ( is), used as surface lubricants in the manufacture of food-contact articles. The method, which uses ethyl palmitate (Eastman Chemicals No. 1575 Red Label) as an internal standard, has been validated at 200 ppm total FAME [185]. Other FAME standards (methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate) are available (Applied Science Laboratories) [116], Worked out examples of additive determinations are given in the Food Additives Analytical Manual [116], which also describes a great many of indirect food additives, such as BHA, BHT, TBHQ, l-chloro-2-propanol, DLTDP, fatty acid methyl esters, w-heptyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, propyl-gallate, sodium benzoate, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, sorbitol and phenolic antioxidants. EPA methods 606 and 8060 describe the CGC separation of phthalate esters (direct injection) (cf. Figure 4.2). 

As a reasonable biogenetie pathway for the enzymatic conversion of the polyunsaturated fatty acid 3 into the bicyclic peroxide 4, the free radical mechanism in Equation 3 was postulated 9). That such a free radical process is a viable mechanism has been indicated by model studies in which prostaglandin-like products were obtained from the autoxidation of methyl linolenate 10> and from the treatment of unsaturated lipid hydroperoxides with free radical initiators U). 

The unsaturated fatty acid oxidation proceeds at a rate higher over that for saturated acids. For example, if the oxidation rate for saturated stearic acid is taken as a reference value, the oxidation rate for oleic acid is i 1 times, linolic acid, 114 times, linolenic acid, 170 times, and arachidonic acid, nearly 200 times as high as that for stearic acid. 

Biosynthesis of triene pheromone components with a triene double bond system that is n-3 (3,6,9-) are probably produced from linolenic acid [49]. Moths in the families Geometridae, Arctiidae, and Noctuidae apparently utilize linoleic and linolenic acid as precursors for their pheromones that must be obtained in the diet,since moths can not synthesize these fatty acids [50]. Most of the Type II pheromones are produced by chain elongation and decarboxylation to form hydrocarbons [51]. Oxygen is added to one of the double bonds in the polyunsaturated hydrocarbon to produce an epoxide [49]. 

FIGURE B-1 Structures of some fatty acids of neurochemical interest (see also Fig. 3-7 and text). The n minus nomenclature for the position of the double bond(s) is given here. Note that the position of the double bond from the carboxyl end can be indicated by the symbol A, so that linoleic acid may be also be designated as 18 2A9,12. The linolenic acid shown is the a isomer. 

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially the n-3 series that are found in marine fish oils, modulate a variety of normal and disease processes, and consequently affect human health. PUFAs are classified based on the position of double bonds in their lipid structure and include the n-3 and n-6 series. Dietary n-3 PUFAs include a-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) whereas the most common n-6 PUFAs are linoleic acid, y-linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid (AA). AA is the primary precursor of eicosanoids, which includes the prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes. Collectively, these AA-derived mediators can exert profound effects on immune and inflammatory processes. Mammals can neither synthesize n-3 and n-6 PUFAs nor convert one variety to the other as they do not possess the appropriate enzymes. PUFAs are required for membrane formation and function... 

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