Abstract
Epidemiological evidence has established that ingestion of long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), abundant in fish oils, have profound effects on many human disorders and diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Here we briefly review the dietary recommendations and the food sources that are naturally enriched by these fatty acids. There are also a number of products including eggs, bread, and cereals available to supplement ω-3 fatty acid dietary intake. Some of these supplements are proposed to aid different pathological conditions. While the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids can no longer be doubted, their molecular mechanism of action remains elusive. Without question, the action of omega-3 fatty acids is complex and involves a number of integrated signaling pathways. This review focuses on one of the possible cellular mechanisms by which the ω-3 PUFAs, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), may function. Studies with cancer cells suggest that DHA induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by activating protein phosphatases, leading to dephosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB). Protein phosphatases are also involved with the protein Bcl2, which regulates the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and eventually, activation of the apoptotic enzyme caspase 3.
Keywords: omega-3 fatty acids, cancer, dietary intake, food supplements
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Omega 3-Fatty Acids: Health Benefits and Cellular Mechanisms of Action
Volume: 4 Issue: 8
Author(s): Rafat A. Siddiqui, Saame R. Shaikh, Laura A. Sech, Heidi R. Yount, William Stillwell and Gary P. Zaloga
Affiliation:
Keywords: omega-3 fatty acids, cancer, dietary intake, food supplements
Abstract: Epidemiological evidence has established that ingestion of long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), abundant in fish oils, have profound effects on many human disorders and diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Here we briefly review the dietary recommendations and the food sources that are naturally enriched by these fatty acids. There are also a number of products including eggs, bread, and cereals available to supplement ω-3 fatty acid dietary intake. Some of these supplements are proposed to aid different pathological conditions. While the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids can no longer be doubted, their molecular mechanism of action remains elusive. Without question, the action of omega-3 fatty acids is complex and involves a number of integrated signaling pathways. This review focuses on one of the possible cellular mechanisms by which the ω-3 PUFAs, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), may function. Studies with cancer cells suggest that DHA induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by activating protein phosphatases, leading to dephosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB). Protein phosphatases are also involved with the protein Bcl2, which regulates the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and eventually, activation of the apoptotic enzyme caspase 3.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Siddiqui A. Rafat, Shaikh R. Saame, Sech A. Laura, Yount R. Heidi, Stillwell William and Zaloga P. Gary, Omega 3-Fatty Acids: Health Benefits and Cellular Mechanisms of Action, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2004; 4 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557043403431
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557043403431 |
Print ISSN 1389-5575 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5607 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Bioprospecting of Natural Products as Sources of New Multitarget Therapies
According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, bioprospecting is the exploration of biodiversity and indigenous knowledge to develop commercially valuable products for pharmaceutical and other applications. Bioprospecting involves searching for useful organic compounds in plants, fungi, marine organisms, and microorganisms. Natural products traditionally constituted the primary source of more than ...read more
Computational Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry
The thematic issue "Computational Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry" provides a robust platform for delving into state-of-the-art computational methodologies and technologies that significantly propel advancements in medicinal chemistry. This edition seeks to amalgamate top-tier reviews spotlighting the latest trends and breakthroughs in the fusion of computational approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI) ...read more
Mitochondria as a Therapeutic Target in Metabolic Disorders
Mitochondria are the primary site of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in mammalian cells. Moreover, these organelles are an important source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in virtually any nucleated cell type. The modulation of a myriad of cellular signaling pathways depends on the mitochondrial physiology. Mitochondrial dysfunction is observed ...read more
Natural Products and Dietary Supplements in Alleviation of Metabolic, Cardiovascular, and Neurological Disorders
Metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, cancer etc, cardiovascular disorders like angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure etc as well as neurological disorders like Alzheimer?s, Parkinson?s, Epilepsy, Depression, etc are the global burden. They covered the major segment of the diseases and disorders from which the human community ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Recruitment of Endogenous Neural Progenitor Cells by Malignant Neoplasms of the Central Nervous System
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Pluripotency-Regulating Networks Provide Basis for Reprogramming
Current Molecular Medicine Anticancer Advances of Matrine and Its Derivatives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Zoledronic Acid: Pleiotropic Anti-Tumor Mechanism and Therapeutic Outlook for Osteosarcoma
Current Drug Targets The Epigenetic Origin of Aneuploidy
Current Genomics Adenoviral Vectors for Cancer Gene Therapy
Current Genomics Advances of Phenoxazines: Synthesis, Reactivity and Their Medicinal Applications
Current Medicinal Chemistry MicroRNAs as Diagnostic, Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers of Ovarian Cancer
Recent Patents on Biomarkers The Molecular Pathology of Eye Tumors: A 2019 Update Main Interests for Routine Clinical Practice
Current Molecular Medicine Oligonucleotide-based Gene Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease Are Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Novel Cardiovascular Drugs
Current Drug Targets The Prodigiosins: A New Family of Anticancer Drugs
Current Cancer Drug Targets Cyclin-Dependent Kinase as a Novel Therapeutic Target: An Endless Story
Current Chemical Biology MicroRNA Regulation of Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency and Differentiation
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy The Human Glioma-Associated Oncogene Homolog 1 (GLI1) Family of Transcription Factors in Gene Regulation and Diseases
Current Genomics Adenovirus-Based Cancer Gene Therapy
Current Gene Therapy Feature Classification and Analysis of Lung Cancer Related Genes through Gene Ontology and KEGG Pathways
Current Bioinformatics The Role of DNA-Microarray in Translational Cancer Research
Current Pharmacogenomics Small and Long Non-Coding RNAs: Novel Targets in Perspective Cancer Therapy
Current Genomics Novel and Emerging Drugs for Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Pharmacology and Therapeutic Activity
Current Medicinal Chemistry New Development and Application of Ultrasound Targeted Microbubble Destruction in Gene Therapy and Drug Delivery
Current Gene Therapy