Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been positively correlated with cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric health in several studies. The high seafood intake by the Japanese and Greenland Inuit has resulted in low ratios of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), with the Japanese showing AA:EPA ratios of approximately 1.7 and the Greenl...

BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence that fatty acid deficiencies or imbalances may contribute to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 6-week pilot trial investigating the effects of 1.5 g/d of omega-3 fatty acids (.84 g/d eicosapentaenoic acid, .7 g/d docosahexaenoic acid) supplementation in 13 children (aged 5 to 17 y...

While the general public typically perceives lipids and fats as 'harmful' components of the diet (as in the popular slogan: 'fat kills'), the scientific story is in fact very different. Among the major scientific research efforts of the recent period, in the area of neuroscience, we find the recognition of the 'essential fatty acids' (EFA). The profound effects of various fatty acids, and equal...

1. Restriction of food to ewes bearing twin lambs showed a trend to decrease the level of omega 6 fatty acids in muscle phospholipids of the foetus though this was not significant statistically (P less than 0.05). 2. There was a significant increase in the fatty acid ratio, 20:3 omega 9:20:4 omega 6 in the twin lambs as compared with single lambs. 3. There were no symptoms of polyunsaturated fa...

The epidemic character of depressive disorders has prompted further research into dietary habits that could make an etiological contribution. One clear change in the diet of the population in developed countries has been the replacement of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by saturated fats and trans-fats as well as by omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are e...

Rats were fed diets that differed in fatty acid composition or in the proportion of energy derived from fat to determine if alteration of dietary fat intake influences the structural lipid composition of liver plasma membrane and the expression of an associated hormone-receptor-mediated function. Weanling rats were fed 9% (w/w) or 20% (w/w) low-erucic acid rape-seed oil or 9% (w/w) soya-bean oi...

The brain is a lipid-rich organ containing mostly complex polar phospholipids, sphingolipids, gangliosides and cholesterol. These lipids are involved in the structure and function of cell membranes in the brain. The glycerophospholipids in the brain contain a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. The...

An epidemiological study in the Danish Green-land Inuit suggested a key role of fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) in the prevention of atherosclerotic diseases 1). Following this landmark study, the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids as part of a diet rich in fatty acids have been extensively researched, with large-scale epidemiological studies, clinical outcomes trials, and meta-analyses demo...

Polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) are important components of cell membrane affecting its function and their deficiency is deleterious to health. We have previously shown that spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are prone to life-threatening arrhythmias that are reduced by omega-3 PUFA intake. Purpose of this study was to explore plasma and red blood cells (RBC) profile of om...