Intake of arachidonic acid-containing lipids in adult humans: dietary surveys and clinical trials

Abstract

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) have important roles in physiological homeostasis. Numerous studies have provided extensive information about the roles of n-3 LCPUFA, such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Arachidonic acid (ARA) is one of the major n-6 LCPUFAs and its biological aspects have been well studied. However, nutritional information for ARA is limited, especially in adult humans. This review presents a framework of dietary ARA intake and the effects of ARA supplementation on LCPUFA metabolism in adult humans, and the nutritional significance of ARA and LCPUFA is discussed.

Effects of combining exercise with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on cognitive function in the elderly: a randomised controlled trial

“…The exercise with LCPUFA group consumed 1,080 mg/day of LCPUFA-containing oil in 6 soft gelatine capsules, in which 300 mg of DHA, 100 mg of EPA, and 120 mg of ARA were included as free fatty acid equivalents. The dose of LCPUFA was designed to be in a range of that from normal daily diets in elderly Japanese 23 , 46 . The same amount of purified olive oil was administered in the no-exercise group with placebo and in the exercise with placebo group.…”

The associations of plasma phospholipid arachidonic acid with cardiovascular diseases: A Mendelian randomization study

“…More recently, icosapent ethyl, a purified n -3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has shown cardiovascular benefit [ 9 ], although benefits of combined EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the marine long-chain n -3 PUFAs recommended for the prevention of CVD [ 6 ], are less clear [ 10 ]. In contrast, the effect of arachidonic acid (AA), one of the major dietary long-chain n -6 PUFA, derived from intake of animal foods (e.g., meat, eggs, and fish, ~200mg/100g) [ 11 ] has been less studied, although AA competes with EPA for cyclooxygenase [ 12 ] and its metabolites are involved in inflammation and coagulation [ 13 ], which are related to atherosclerosis [ 14 ] and atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD).…”

Inadequate fat diet

“…The need for linoleic acid is 5-6 g per day [3]. An excess of linoleic acid leads to an increased formation of arachidonic acid (C20:4 ω-6), from which pro-inflammatory eicosanoids are formed [24]. As a result, a situation is created in the body that is favorable for the development of systemic inflammation [25].…”