Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 15, Issue 36, 2009

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are a family of lipids with more than one double bond in their molecule, that are identified by the position of the last double bond in their structure. The main groups are ω-3 PUFA, including alpha linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and ω-6 PUFA including linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA). Few other nutritional substances have Read More

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are a family of lipids including some subgroups identified by the position of the last double bond in their structure. PUFA n-3 include alpha linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while PUFA n-6 include linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA). Since PUFA n-3 consumption has been shown to be inversely correlated with coronary heart disease Read More

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Several observational and experimental studies show the beneficial effects of ω-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in cardiovascular disease. The results from such studies justify supplementation of ω-3 PUFA in primary and secondary prevention of several clinical conditions, including coronary heart disease, sudden cardiac death and heart failure. Supplementation of ω-3 PUFA is also indicated as monotherapy in the tr Read More

Type and quantity of ingested dietary fat contribute to the onset and progression of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity or arteriosclerosis. Attention is increasingly focussing on effective therapies for these diseases as well as functional foods that impede the development of insulin resistance and obesity. Studies provided evidence showing polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-3 and the omega-6 families play be Read More

Obesity is becoming a major public health problem worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing as well as the burden of diet-related chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain cancers. The link between obesity and chronic diseases is well established. Obese individuals are two to three times more likely to die prematurely than their lean counterparts, primarily due to the as Read More

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing continuously, especially in older people. Such a rapidly rising risk has been linked to physical inactivity and evolutionary changes in dietary patterns (mainly characterized by a greater intake in dietary fat). Increased physical activity in any age group is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological studies also reported a lower incidence of type Read More

Inflammation is part of the normal host response to infection and injury. However, inappropriate inflammation contributes to several diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Both conditions are characterized by the excessive production of inflammatory cytokines, arachidonic acid (AA)-derived eicosanoids, and other inflammatory agents (e.g., reactive oxygen species, adhes Read More

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem and can result in end-stage renal disease with need for dialysis or transplantation. In Europe up to 12% of the adult population had some renal impairment, while in the United States the end stage of CKD has increased dramatically from 209.000 in 1991 to 472.000 in 2004. Diabetes and hypertension are major causes of kidney pathology. Infection, particularly ascen Read More

The essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) comprise 2 main classes: n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. The most common source of n-6 fatty acids is linoleic acid (LA) which is found in high concentrations in various vegetable oils. Arachidonic acid (AA), the 20-carbon n-6 fatty acid, is obtained largely by synthesis from LA in the body. The n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) are found in fish a Read More

Brain lipids contain a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which are a main component of cell membranes. Omega -3 (ω-3) PUFA eicosapentaeoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are the most common PUFA in the brain. The physiological roles of ω-3 PUFA in the brain include regulation of cell membrane fluidity, dopaminergic and serotoninergic transmission, membrane-bound enzymes and cellul Read More

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) play a crucial role in cerebral structure and function. Omega-3 PUFA is an exciting area of research, with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) emerging as a new potential agent for prevention of cognitive decline and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Preclinical studies suggest that DHA maintains membrane fluidity, improves synaptic and neurotransmitter functioning, enhances learni Read More

Large doses of omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are used to treat several diseases including hypertriglyceridemia in humans. Modest levels of EPA and DHA may be obtained from food, particularly from fatty fish. This review presents the literature examining the differences between omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation and prescribed omega-3-acid ethyl esters (P- Read More