Long-chain n−3 PUFA: plant v. marine sources

Long chain PUFA transport in human term placenta.

Introduction Docosahexanoic (DHA) and arachidonic (ARA) acids are important for proper fetal development and accumulate in the fetus during gestation. They cannot be synthesized by the fetus and must be gained instead from the maternal blood supply via the syncytiotrophoblast, the transporting epithelium of the placenta. Cell biological experiments suggest that both membraneassociated placental...

Placental transfer of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA).

Considerable evidence exists for marked beneficial effects of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) during pregnancy. The omega-3 LC-PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is incorporated in large amounts in fetal brain and other tissues during the second half of pregnancy, and several studies have provided evidence for a link between early DHA status of the mother and visual and co...

Synthesis and Metabolism of N3 and N6 PUFA in Mammals

Alternative Sources of n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Marine Microalgae

The main source of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in human nutrition is currently seafood, especially oily fish. Nonetheless, due to cultural or individual preferences, convenience, geographic location, or awareness of risks associated to fatty fish consumption, the intake of fatty fish is far from supplying the recommended dietary levels. The end result observed in most w...

Anti-inflammatory drugs from plant and marine sources.