Essential Fatty Acids
- Date: 2010-01-07 - Word Count: 526
Share This!
Most fatty acids can be naturally produced in the normal mechanism of human body; the body is capable of producing monounsaturated fatty acids (using a double bond at the point of omega-9) and saturated fatty acids.
However there is no synthetic system for making two essential fatty acids including linoleic acids (18 carbon atoms and two double bonds) and alpha-linolenic acid (18 carbons with 3 double bonds), thus the necessity of incorporating these compounds to diet on a daily basis.
Essential fatty acids or "EFAs" are polyunsaturated fatty acids categorized in omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3)fatty acids; depending on the type of oils containing various classification of polyunsaturated fatty acids with different percentage.
The body is unable to provide the required enzyme to introduce a double bond at the omega-6 and omega-3 places; although the body may enable conditions for conversion of e.g. one omega-3 to some other omega-3, but unable to construct one n-3 from n-6 or from saturated fatty acids.
Basically essential fatty acids are necessary for mammals in order to supplying compounds responsible for maintaining regular mechanism of the body for instance: balancing the blood pressure, blood lipid proportion, immune system, blood clot, etc.
Insufficient / imbalanced intake of omega-3 in diet has been suggested to induce adverse effects on moods and behaviour including developing aggressive behavior and depression. The main contributory factors to these symptoms are still unclear.
Essential fatty acids are available from oils of certain plants or fish which can be used to satisfy a healthy human diet. Generally, food sources rich in EFAs comprise flax seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, grape seeds, canola, walnut, fish oil, etc.
Linoleic acid
According to the recent research conducted on rodents, linoleic acids have some beneficial properties which can suppress/reduce the risk of cancer-related diseases. Results have also confirmed that linoleic acids are able to reduce body fat in addition to improving muscle tissue and bone density. Further studies are being carried out to ascertain the ability of these functions in human body.
Linoleic acid (LA) is mainly obtainable from certain vegetable oils especially grape seed oils which are extracted from the seeds of "vitis vinifera grapes" ranges. Oils from these plants contain considerable quantities of fatty acids; polyunsaturated (69%), monounsaturated (16%) and saturated (9%) fatty acids. Grape seed oils are nutritionally valuable in terms of high contents of linoleic acids which can supply omega-6 essential fatty acids in the human diet. Moreover, oleic acids also account for a relatively noticeable amount in grape seed oils providing omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids.
Alpha-linolenic acid
This is classified as polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid which is commonly originated from vegetable oils (including flax seed with 18 % omega-3), butter nuts, walnuts, pecan nuts)and seafood specially oily fish such as herring, sardines, mackerel, anchovies and trout. The body has the ability to convert alpha-linolenic acid into the "longer chain fatty acids" including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) respectively.
It has been reported that alpha-linolenic acids have some protective characteristics against cardiovascular disease particularly arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). However it is yet to be analyzed if this beneficial factor is purely due to the presence of ALA or is it is in association with those metabolic compounds (EPA and DHA).
However there is no synthetic system for making two essential fatty acids including linoleic acids (18 carbon atoms and two double bonds) and alpha-linolenic acid (18 carbons with 3 double bonds), thus the necessity of incorporating these compounds to diet on a daily basis.
Essential fatty acids or "EFAs" are polyunsaturated fatty acids categorized in omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3)fatty acids; depending on the type of oils containing various classification of polyunsaturated fatty acids with different percentage.
The body is unable to provide the required enzyme to introduce a double bond at the omega-6 and omega-3 places; although the body may enable conditions for conversion of e.g. one omega-3 to some other omega-3, but unable to construct one n-3 from n-6 or from saturated fatty acids.
Basically essential fatty acids are necessary for mammals in order to supplying compounds responsible for maintaining regular mechanism of the body for instance: balancing the blood pressure, blood lipid proportion, immune system, blood clot, etc.
Insufficient / imbalanced intake of omega-3 in diet has been suggested to induce adverse effects on moods and behaviour including developing aggressive behavior and depression. The main contributory factors to these symptoms are still unclear.
Essential fatty acids are available from oils of certain plants or fish which can be used to satisfy a healthy human diet. Generally, food sources rich in EFAs comprise flax seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, grape seeds, canola, walnut, fish oil, etc.
Linoleic acid
According to the recent research conducted on rodents, linoleic acids have some beneficial properties which can suppress/reduce the risk of cancer-related diseases. Results have also confirmed that linoleic acids are able to reduce body fat in addition to improving muscle tissue and bone density. Further studies are being carried out to ascertain the ability of these functions in human body.
Linoleic acid (LA) is mainly obtainable from certain vegetable oils especially grape seed oils which are extracted from the seeds of "vitis vinifera grapes" ranges. Oils from these plants contain considerable quantities of fatty acids; polyunsaturated (69%), monounsaturated (16%) and saturated (9%) fatty acids. Grape seed oils are nutritionally valuable in terms of high contents of linoleic acids which can supply omega-6 essential fatty acids in the human diet. Moreover, oleic acids also account for a relatively noticeable amount in grape seed oils providing omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids.
Alpha-linolenic acid
This is classified as polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid which is commonly originated from vegetable oils (including flax seed with 18 % omega-3), butter nuts, walnuts, pecan nuts)and seafood specially oily fish such as herring, sardines, mackerel, anchovies and trout. The body has the ability to convert alpha-linolenic acid into the "longer chain fatty acids" including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) respectively.
It has been reported that alpha-linolenic acids have some protective characteristics against cardiovascular disease particularly arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). However it is yet to be analyzed if this beneficial factor is purely due to the presence of ALA or is it is in association with those metabolic compounds (EPA and DHA).
Essential Fatty Acids - Lab Reports - Essential Fatty Acidsn
n Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- How Hypnotherapy Can be Used on Children
Today Hypnosis can be termed as a branch of medicine which is quite unique, whereas in the past this - Confidence Workshops For Children
Every parent wants their children to be confident, happy, highly motivated and enthusiastic in order - Inspiring Children Using NLP
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is one of the most successful therapies in psychology today. Init - Writing Term Papers
Students often tend to put off a written assignment, considering it to be a chore too formidable to - Naming In Term Paper
Give a descriptive name to each of your concept in the paper. Adhere using terms like "our approach" - Introduction Section of a Research Paper
Your introductions should not exceed more than two pages (typed, double spaced). See again the examp - Getting a Feedback of Your Term Paper is Important!
Get the feedback of your work! Finish your paper, having written it well in advance, so that you hav - The 1950's - Was Life Better?
Iconic TV shows like I Love Lucy, Dennis the Menace and My Three Sons seem to indicate that the 1950 - Online Classroom Systems Makes Home Schooling Even More Attractive
In the past it went without saying that you would send your kids to public schools. With public scho - 8 Helpful Tips For Surviving Military Basic Training
Getting through military basic training takes a lot perseverance. During this training it is best to
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Culinary Cooking Schools and What They Teach
Culinary cooking schools prepare you for a job in the culinary industry by providing you with the kn - How To Learn Spanish Quickly Without Moving To Spain
Learning Spanish is a popular pastime, as well as a serious goal for many individuals. Whether it's - How To Improve Your Life With An Accredited Online College Degree
With the information super highway raring full steam ahead, quality accredited online college degree - Online Bachelor Degree Programs Go Mainstream
The Internet has seen an explosion in online bachelor degree programs in the last five to ten years - Online Degree Program Just A Click Away
You want to go shopping, but your car is low on gas. You want to know your account balance, but do n - Online Paralegal Degree Will Open Doors
An online paralegal degree may offer the possibility of improving your chances in the legal professi - What West Point Military School Looks For In A Candidate
West Point is looking for well rounded young men and women who are good students, good athletes, and - The Importance of Effective Accounting Programs
In the past, small businesses like mom and pop stores were not required to maintain any sort of acco - California Schools Educators Retirement System And Lionstone Group Create Investment Fund
The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CSTRS) is the second largest public pension fund i - A Taste of China - Seattle Schools New Guest Teacher Shares Language and Culture of Her Native Hom
The Seattle schools have a new "guest" teacher. Zhu Dan arrived in the Seattle schools in January