Abstract
Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) are recommended for management of patients with wide-ranging chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and depression. Increased consumption of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is recommended by many health authorities to prevent (up to 0.5 g/day) or treat chronic disease (1.0 g/day for coronary heart disease; 1.2–4 g/day for elevated triglyceride levels). Recommendations for dietary intake of LC n-3 PUFAs are often provided for α-linolenic acid, and for the combination of EPA and DHA. However, many studies have also reported differential effects of EPA, DHA and their metabolites in the clinic and at the laboratory bench. The aim of this article is to review studies that have identified divergent responses to EPA and DHA, and to explore reasons for these differences. In particular, we review potential contributing factors such as differential membrane incorporation, modulation of gene expression, activation of signaling pathways and metabolite formation. We suggest that there may be future opportunity to refine recommendations for intake of individual LC n-3 PUFAs.
Highlights
Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) are recommended for management of patients with wide-ranging chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and depression
Whilst low delta-6 desaturase activity in humans contributes to poor conversion of Although plant-derived α-linolenic acid (ALA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [14], levels of EPA and DHA can be increased through dietary intake of LC n-3
The findings show that diets containing high levels of EPA or DHA can lead to differential incorporation of fatty acids, including LC n-3 PUFAs, into diacylglycerol
Summary
Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) are fatty acids with a long chain (20 carbons or more), with the first double bond located after the third carbon from the methyl end. Dose is an important determinant of patient outcome, where high doses only of LC n-3 PUFAs (for example, 2–4 g EPA + DHA/day) can provide cardiovascular benefit associated with serum triglyceride reduction [10]. Many populations consume amounts of LC n-3 PUFAs that are regarded as ―adequate‖, avoiding problems associated with deficiency, but not enough to provide health protection Health authorities in these countries recommend increased intake of LC n-3 PUFAs to provide such benefits. The health benefits of the LC-n-3 PUFAs have often been ascribed to particular types of LC-n-3 PUFAs. For example, studies have reported blood pressure lowering effects of DHA but not EPA [26,27], while EPA has been reported to be more efficacious than DHA in reducing platelet activation [28,29].
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