title: n-3 fatty acids as precursors for active metabolic substances: dissonance between expected and observed events.
abstract: It may be hypothesized that many diseases are associated with an overproduction of eicosanoids from the n-6 acid, arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), and the formation and function of these n-6 eicosanoids can be antagonized by dietary n-3 fats. This hypothesis provides a basis for evaluating the benefits and risks of including various amounts of n-3 and n-6 fats in the diet. Understanding the impact of dietary polyunsaturated fats leads inevitably to a reappraisal of what is 'normal' in terms of what is typical and what is desirable for the fatty acid composition of tissue lipids, the magnitude of eicosanoid-mediated responses, and the frequency and severity of certain diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Chicago.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Lands
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid