N-6 Polyunsaturated fatty acids PUFAs

Cabanes, A., Wang, M., Olivo, S., Gustafsson, J., and Hilakivi-Clarke, L. (2003). Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on breast cancer progression. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 12 (1305S). 

Diseases of the heart and circulatory system, cardiovascular diseases, have long been the leading cause of mortality in Europe and North America, and total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are the two most important risk factors for coronary heart disease. Decreased arterial compliance of the arteries is thought to contribute to systolic hypertension and coronary artery insufficiency. A number of nutraceuticals have been used for long-term prevention or symptom reduction in cardiovascular diseases, notably soy products, tea flavonoids, octacosanol, n-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and, to a lesser extent, melatonin, Pycnogenol, resveratrol, coenzyme QIO, lycopene, and DHEA. 

Wallace, J.M., McCabe, A.J., Robson, P.J., Keogh, M.K., Murray, C.A., Kelly, P.M., Marquez-Ruiz, G., McGlynn, H., Glimore, W.S. and Strain, J.J. (2000) Bioavailability of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in foods enriched with microencapsulated fish oil. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 44 157-162. 

Watanabe S, Doshi M, Hamazaki T (2003) n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) deficiency elevates and n-3 PUFA enrichment reduces brain 2-arachidonoylglycerol level in mice. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 69 51-59... 

The precursors of both n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acid and (/.-linolenic acid, respectively, are essential for mammals as they are required for normal physiological function and cannot be synthesized de novo (Holman, 1968). They can only be accumulated by placental transfer or by dietary intake. Once accretion of these fatty acids has occurred, metabolic, conservation and recycling pathways sustain them (B azan et al., 1994). Unlike mammals, plants can synthesize these precursor PUFAs (linoleic and a-linolenic acids) so they are found in abundance in the chloroplast membranes of plants, in certain vegetable oils, and in the tissues of plant-eating animals (Nettleton, 1991). The best sources of a-linolenic acid are vegetable oils, such as perilla (Yoshida et al., 1993) rapeseed (canola), linseed, walnut, and soybean (Nettleton, 1991). They are also abundant in shellfish, fish, and fish products and can be found in low amounts in green, leafy vegetables and baked beans (Nettleton, 1991 Sinclair, 1993). 

Franzosi MG, Brunetti M, Marchioli R, et al. Cost-effectiveness analysis of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) after myocardial infarction Results from Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nellTnfarcto (GlSSI)-Prevenzione Trial. Pharmacoeconomics 2001 19 411-420. 

Several studies have shown the protective role of dietary (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) against cardiovascular diseases [56-57]. Greenland Eskimos and, to a lesser extent, some Japanese, with high dietary intake of (n-3) PUFA from seafood, have a low incidence of cardiovascular diseases compared with Western populations [58]. 

The fatty acid compositions of PLs are very different depending on their origins and lipid class. PC extracted from soybean and egg yolk binds linoleic acid and palmitic acid as its main fatty acids. PLs rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA),... 

No Effect on Operative Blood Loss with n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) Before Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)... 

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20 5n-3) and docosahex-aenoic acid (DHA, 22 6n-3) are n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in fish oil. Supplementation of fish oil or n-3 PUFA such as EPA has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of a series of inflammatory, autoimmune, and atherosclerotic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (5-8). The blocking of the production of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and eicosanoids has been suggested as one of the mechanisms that contribute to the beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids (5-12). The n-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease TNF-a production in animal and human stodies (8-12), yet the mechanisms remain to be elucidated. 

The right balance of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is important for good health. The n-3 PUFA such as eicosapentaenoic acid PA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are mainly found in fish oils. Marine plants can convert a-linolenic acid (ALA) into EPA and DHA, which find their way through the food chain to fish tissues. Another source of n-3 PUFA is the ALA that is found mainly in flaxseed, canola, and soybean oils. Unlike plants, mammals cannot convert oleic acid into linoleic acid, linoleic acid into ALA, or convert n-6 PUFA to n-3 PUFA. Linoleic acid and n-3 PUFA are therefore known as essential fatty acids (1). 

Fish flesh is considered to have great nutritional value due to its higher levels of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which have been shown to have various health... 

ALA, an essential fatty acid present as a relatively high proportion of the total fatty acids in some vegetable oils such as perilla and chia (60-70%), flaxseed (55-60%), canola (-10%), soybean (-7%), and walnut (-13%) oils, is the precursor of and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). DHA and EPA are the predominant long-chain n-3 PUFA found in fish, fish oils, and other marine organisms. DPA is a major long-chain n-3 PUFA found in fish, meat, and meat products. 

Fish with high fat contents is an important source of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the human diet, in particular for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (EFSA, 2005). On the other side, a wide range of environmental contaminants have been reported to be accumulated in fish that can pose a potential human health hazard (Leonard, 2011). Major contaminations include the different OCPs, PAHs or the widely distributed persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the flame retardants compound class of the polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). Also farmed fish can significantly contribute to dietary exposure to various contaminants due to the use of land sourced fish feed. A multi method for efficient control of fish and fish feed for various groups of contaminants from PCBs, OCPs, BFRs (brominated flame retardants) and PAHs is outlined in the following analytical procedure published by Kamila Kalachova et al. (Kalachova et al., 2013). 

Kitessa, S.M., D. Peake, R. Bencini and A.J. Williams, 2003. Fish oil metabolism in ruminants III. Transfer of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from tuna oil into sheep s milk. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. 108,1-14. 

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