Category Archives: Dihomo Gamma Linolenic 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

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

Imbalances in Essential Fatty Acids

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The essential fatty acids (EFAs) linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) can be metabolised to other more unsaturated, long-chain fatty acids by the insertion of additional double bonds during consecutive elongation and desaturation reactions. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Fish, Fish Oils, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Inflammation | Comments Off on Imbalances in Essential Fatty Acids

Essential Fatty Acids in Early Development

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The two essential fatty acids (EFA), linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)), are required in the diet because humans are unable to synthesise them de novo. A series of elongation and desaturation reactions creates a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Fish Oils, Flax Oil, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Pregnancy | Comments Off on Essential Fatty Acids in Early Development

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and PPAR

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family are ligand-activated nuclear transcription factors involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism through gene expression of peroxisome number. It is thought that the PPAR are activated by C18 to C22 n-3 and n-6 fatty … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Cancer, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Inflammation, Linoleic Acid, Omega 3, Omega 6, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and PPAR

GLA and EPA Interaction

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Starflower (borage) and evening primrose oils are good sources of the n-6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid γ-linolenic acid (GLA, C18:3 (n-6)). In humans GLA is converted to dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, C20:3 (n-6)) which is subsequently converted to the anti-inflammatory … Continue reading →

Posted in Arachidonic Acid, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Inflammation | Comments Off on GLA and EPA Interaction

More on GLA and Inflammation

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The essential fatty acids α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18 (n-3)) and linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) play an important role in the formation of eicosanoids. Eicosanoids are 20-carbon chemicals that act as local hormones to regulate cellular inflammation. Eicosanoids can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Fish Oils, Flax Oil, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Inflammation | Comments Off on More on GLA and Inflammation

Important Long Chain Fatty Acids

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Robert Barrington

There are a number of long chain fatty acids that are important to human health (figure 1). The essential fatty acids alpha-linolenic (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) acid and linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) cannot be synthesised by humans but are vital … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid | Comments Off on Important Long Chain Fatty Acids