Evolutionary aspects of omega-3 fatty acids in the food supply

Simopoulos, Artemis P.

doi:10.1016/s0952-3278(99)80023-4

Cited by 194 publications

(144 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…These fisheries hitherto have been the major source of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in human and animal diets (13). Increased fish farming potentially can offset the effects of this decline in a key marine resource.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some animals, notably extreme carnivores, have a very limited ability to synthesize C 20 and C 22 PUFAs and consequently have a strict requirement for a dietary source of preformed C 20 and C 22 PUFAs (9-12). Although humans generally possess the ability to synthesize C 20 and C 22 PUFAs from linoleic and ␣-linolenic acids, dietary changes as a consequence of intensification of agriculture have resulted in an increase in the 18:2n-6͞18:3n-3 ratio in foods (13). There is considerable evidence that these changes have had, and continue to have, negative impacts on health and development in affected populations (4,13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although humans generally possess the ability to synthesize C 20 and C 22 PUFAs from linoleic and ␣-linolenic acids, dietary changes as a consequence of intensification of agriculture have resulted in an increase in the 18:2n-6͞18:3n-3 ratio in foods (13). There is considerable evidence that these changes have had, and continue to have, negative impacts on health and development in affected populations (4,13). The dietary 18:2n-6͞18:3n-3 ratio seems to have increased because of a steady decline in dietary n-3 fatty acids over a period of several hundred years, and this increase has been compounded by an increased dietary intake of 18:2n-6 in recent decades, particularly in Western societies (13)(14)(15)(16).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A vertebrate fatty acid desaturase with Δ5 and Δ6 activities

Hastings

Agaba

Tocher

et al. 2001

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

309

275

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⌬5 and ⌬6 fatty acid desaturases are critical enzymes in the pathways for the biosynthesis of the polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids. They are encoded by distinct genes in mammals and Caenorhabditis elegans. This paper describes a cDNA isolated from zebrafish (Danio rerio) with high similarity to mammalian ⌬6 desaturase genes. The 1,590-bp sequence specifies a protein that, in common with other fatty acid desaturases, contains an N-terminal cytochrome b5 domain and three histidine boxes, believed to be involved in catalysis. When the zebrafish cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae it conferred the ability to convert linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and ␣-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) to their corresponding ⌬6 desaturated products, 18:3n-6 and 18:4n-3. However, in addition it conferred on the yeast the ability to convert di-homo-␥-linoleic acid (20:3n-6) and eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4n-3) to arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), respectively, indicating that the zebrafish gene encodes an enzyme having both ⌬5 and ⌬6 desaturase activity. The zebrafish ⌬5͞⌬6 desaturase may represent a component of a prototypic vertebrate polyunsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis pathway.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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A vertebrate fatty acid desaturase with Δ5 and Δ6 activities

Hastings

Agaba

Tocher

et al. 2001

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

309

275

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The extract was filtered and the solvent was evaporated using a rotary evaporator. The extract was then dried at 40 °C and powdered [12][13] .…”

Section: Plant Materials and Extractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mother solutions of different concentrations of extract, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg/ml were used. To measure the antioxidant activity of the solution from BrandWiliames using DPPH, mg/ml were used [13][14] .…”

Section: Dpph Determinationmentioning

confidence: 99%