Category Archives: Arachidonic Acid

EPA and DHA: Regulators of Desaturase Expression

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Understanding genetic defects and their effects on metabolic pathways can be useful in the nutritional sciences. This is because diet can influence enzyme activity to a similar extent as genes. For example, Kilmer McCully identified homocysteine as a causative factor … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Delta 5-desaturase, Delta 6-desaturase, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish Oils | Comments Off on EPA and DHA: Regulators of Desaturase Expression

Essential Knowledge: Fatty Acids

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Plants possess two enzymes, Δ12-desaturase and Δ15-desaturase, that allow the synthesis of linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)), respectively. The Δ12-desaturase enzyme adds a double bond to a molecule of oleic acid (OA, C18:1 (n-9)) … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Delta 5-desaturase, Delta 6-desaturase, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosanoids, Docosapentaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Eicosatraenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Stearidonic Acid | Comments Off on Essential Knowledge: Fatty Acids

Alpha-Linolenic Acid: Metabolism

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) is an essential fatty acid that is required for human health. The main dietary sources of ALA are plant material such as flaxseeds, hemp seeds, green leafy vegetables and walnuts, although other seeds and nuts … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosanoids, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish Oils, Flax Oil, Hemp, Walnuts | Comments Off on Alpha-Linolenic Acid: Metabolism

Diet Quality and Disease Risk

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Growing evidence suggests that diet quality plays an important role in determining future disease risk. Lifestyle diseases associated with poor quality diet include cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. However, much of the research to date has focussed … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Calcium, Carbohydrate, Cardiovascular Disease, Carotenoids, Folate, Linoleic Acid, Mediterranean Diet, Trans Fatty Acids, Vegetables, Vitamin D, Vitamin K | Comments Off on Diet Quality and Disease Risk

Lipoprotein Fatty Acid Composition

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) represent the lipoprotein fraction measured as plasma triglycerides. Following absorption to the plasma within chylomicrons, triglycerides are passed to the liver where they are arranged into VLDL particles. The composition of the VLDL particles therefore … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachidonic Acid, LDL, Linoleic Acid, Monounsaturated Fatty Acids, Olive Oil, Olives, Oxidative Stress, VLDL | Comments Off on Lipoprotein Fatty Acid Composition

Alpha-Linolenic Acid From Flax

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Western diets are too high in the n-6 essential fatty acid linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) and too low in the n-3 essential fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)). This imbalance in essential fatty acids, in addition to high … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish Oils, Flax Oil, Inflammation | Comments Off on Alpha-Linolenic Acid From Flax

Systemic Inflammation and Diet

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Recent evidence suggests that obesity is associated with low level chronic inflammation. This may deplete antioxidant defences through the generation of systemic oxidative stress, and result in the formation of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. An inverse … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Antioxidant, Arachidonic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Inflammation, Linoleic Acid, Obesity, Oxidative Stress, Rosavins / Salidrosides | Comments Off on Systemic Inflammation and Diet

Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Depression

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The essential fatty acids α-linolenic acid (ALA, C,18:3 (n-3)) and linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) are required for the formation of the eicosanoid signal molecules which regulate cellular function. Because of the wide ranging modulation of cellular activity by eicosanoids, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Brain, Depression, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Elderly, Essential Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Depression

More on EFA Interactions

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, C20:5 (n-3)) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA, C22:6 (n-3)) accumulate in cell membranes where they provide protection against cardiovascular disease. This is because they are converted to eicosanoid hormones that regulate … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Linoleic Acid | Comments Off on More on EFA Interactions

Plasma Fatty Acids of Alaskan Eskimos

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Native inhabitants of northern parts of Canada, Alaska and Greenland rely on marine sources for their protein and energy needs. These food sources tend to include both marine mammals and cold water fish that contain high levels of long-chain polyunsaturated … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachidonic Acid, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Fish Oils, Gamma Linolenic Acid | Comments Off on Plasma Fatty Acids of Alaskan Eskimos