title: [Essential fatty acids: its transformations and functions].
abstract: Essential fatty acids, in animals, pertain to two different fatty acid families: the linoleic and the linolenic. These, and the non-essential families of oleic and palmitoleic are produced by action of the enzymes proper. The lack of essential fatty acids produces typical symptoms that are accompanied by fatty acid compositions, also typical, utilized with diagnostic value. The biological effects of essential fatty acids can be specific and nonspecific. The latter manifest themselves particularly in the phospholipid composition and, therefore, in the structure and fluency of the membranes. In contrast, specific essential fatty acids act in the formation of prostaglandins, prostacyclins, tromboxans and leucotriens. Each essential fatty acid produces specific effects, depending on the prostanoids formed and the tissue in question.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D009829:Oleic Acids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; C008757:palmitoleic acid
vernacular_title: Los ácidos grasos esenciales: sus transformaciones y funciones.