Abstract
Essential fatty acids (EFAs): cis-linoleic acid (LA) and -linolenic acid (ALA) are essential for humans and their deficiency is rare in humans due to their easy availability in diet. EFAs are metabolized to their respective long-chain metabolites: dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA) from LA; and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from ALA. Some of these long-chain metabolites form precursors to respective prostaglandins (PGs), thromboxanes (TXs), and leukotrienes (LTs), lipoxins (LXs) and resolvins. EFAs and their metabolites may function as endogenous angiotensin converting enzyme and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, nitric oxide enhancers, anti-hypertensives, and anti-atherosclerotic molecules. EFAs react with nitric oxide (NO) to yield respective nitroalkene derivatives that have cell-signaling actions via ligation and activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). In several diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, alcoholism, schizophrenia, Alzheimers disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer the metabolism of EFAs is altered. Thus, EFAs and their derivatives have significant clinical implications.
Keywords: Essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, prostaglandins, lipoxins, nitric oxide
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Title: Essential Fatty Acids - A Review
Volume: 7 Issue: 6
Author(s): Undurti N. Das
Affiliation:
Keywords: Essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, prostaglandins, lipoxins, nitric oxide
Abstract: Essential fatty acids (EFAs): cis-linoleic acid (LA) and -linolenic acid (ALA) are essential for humans and their deficiency is rare in humans due to their easy availability in diet. EFAs are metabolized to their respective long-chain metabolites: dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), and arachidonic acid (AA) from LA; and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from ALA. Some of these long-chain metabolites form precursors to respective prostaglandins (PGs), thromboxanes (TXs), and leukotrienes (LTs), lipoxins (LXs) and resolvins. EFAs and their metabolites may function as endogenous angiotensin converting enzyme and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, nitric oxide enhancers, anti-hypertensives, and anti-atherosclerotic molecules. EFAs react with nitric oxide (NO) to yield respective nitroalkene derivatives that have cell-signaling actions via ligation and activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). In several diseases such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, alcoholism, schizophrenia, Alzheimers disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer the metabolism of EFAs is altered. Thus, EFAs and their derivatives have significant clinical implications.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Das N. Undurti, Essential Fatty Acids - A Review, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2006; 7 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920106779116856
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920106779116856 |
Print ISSN 1389-2010 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4316 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Artificial Intelligence in Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that analyzes and explores biological data. This field combines biology and information system. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has attracted great attention as it tries to replicate human intelligence. It has become common technology for analyzing and solving complex data and problems and encompasses sub-fields of machine ...read more
Latest Advancements in Biotherapeutics
The scope of this thematic issue is to comprehensively explore the rapidly evolving landscape of biotherapeutics, emphasizing breakthroughs in precision medicine. Encompassing diverse therapeutic modalities, the issue will delve into the latest developments in monoclonal antibodies, CRISPR/Cas gene editing, CAR-T cell therapies, and innovative drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticle-based ...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
-
Anti-Cancer, Pharmacokinetic and Biodistribution Studies of Cremophor EL Free Alternative Paclitaxel Formulation
Current Drug Safety Growth and Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Cardiac Cell Replacement Therapy
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Autoimmune Fibrotic Adverse Reactions in One-Year Treatment with Cabergoline for Women with Prolactinoma
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Dementia
Current Alzheimer Research Diabetic Cardiovascular Disease – AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) as a Therapeutic Target
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Ranolazine and its Antiarrhythmic Actions
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Carbohydrate based Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents: Recent Developments and their Scope in Future Drug Discovery
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Progress in Detection of Insomnia Sleep Disorder: A Comprehensive Review
Current Drug Targets Editorial (Hot Topic: Introduction to the Special Issue: Relevance of Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders in Heart Failure: From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Approach)
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Towards Human on a Chip: Recent Progress and Future Perspective
Micro and Nanosystems Myocardial Structure and Matrix Metalloproteinases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Meet Our Editorial Board Member:
Current Vascular Pharmacology Editorial: Recent News on Statins for the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
Current Vascular Pharmacology Oxidative Stress in Essential Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Liver Imaging: Recent Advances
Current Pharmaceutical Design Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Recent Advances in Management of Diabetic Macular Edema
Current Diabetes Reviews Teaching a Lifestyle Intervention for Reversing Impaired Fasting Glucose, Hyperlipidemia and Obesity/Overweight to a Cohort of Local Physicians
Current Nutrition & Food Science Soluble Amyloid-β Levels and Late-Life Depression
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pro- and Anti-Arrhythmic Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry