User Settings
Open AccessBook Chapter10.1007/978-1-59259-119-0_6

On the Relative Efficacy of α-Linolenic Acid and Preformed Docosahexaenoic Acid as Substrates for Tissue Docosahexaenoate During Perinatal Development

Meng‐Chuan Huang,J. Thomas Brenna-2001-01-01-Humana Press eBooks
9

TL;DRAbstract

The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), α-linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3n−3) and linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n−6) are indispensable dietary components in mammals. It is thought that the primary metabolic role of LA and LNA are as essential precursors for conversion to their respective long-chain metabolites. Of these long-chain PUFA (LCP, C>20) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n−3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n−6), have received the most attention, because of their distinct functional roles in fetal and infant health. They are present in human breast milk at small but significant amounts, ranging from 0.1% to 0.6% and 0.5% to 1%, respectively (Jensen, 1996). DHA and AA are the most abundant n−3 and n−6 LCP found in the lipids of humans and are concentrated in the brain and central nervous system (CNS), which is second only to adipose tissue in containing the greatest percentage of lipid. The brain is comprised of 50–60% lipids (dry wt) serving mostly structural roles, as opposed to storage of en

Chat with Paper

AI Agents for this Paper

The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), α-linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3n−3) and linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n−6) are indispensable dietary components in mammals. It is thought that the primary metabolic role of LA and LNA are as essential precursors for conversion to their respective long-chain metabolites. Of these long-chain PUFA (LCP, C>20) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n−3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n−6), have received the most attention, because of their distinct functional roles in fetal and infant health. They are present in human breast milk at small but significant amounts, ranging from 0.1% to 0.6% and 0.5% to 1%, respectively (Jensen, 1996). DHA and AA are the most abundant n−3 and n−6 LCP found in the lipids of humans and are concentrated in the brain and central nervous system (CNS), which is second only to adipose tissue in containing the greatest percentage of lipid. The brain is comprised of 50–60% lipids (dry wt) serving mostly structural roles, as opposed to storage of en

Keywords

Docosahexaenoic acidPolyunsaturated fatty acidArachidonic acidLinoleic acidAdipose tissueBiologyPhospholipidFetus

Chat

Click to start Chat