Fish lipids: more than n-3 fatty acids?
Recent studies have shown that marine oils rich in long-chain (C20 and C22) fatty acids (i.e. certain natural marine oils and partially hydrogenated fish oil) may affect the haemostatic balance in a favourable way with regard to coronary heart disease. Such fats have also been found to increase the content of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid = C20:5 n-3) and to decrease the content of arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6) in blood lipids, thus affecting the ratio of C20:4 n-6 to C20:5 n-3 in a favourable way with regard to eicosanoid production. It is therefore likely that the positive effects of long-chain monoenoic fatty acids on haemostasis are due to increased synthesis of long-chain essential n-3 fatty acids. According to recent theories the final steps in the synthesis of long-chain essential fatty acids occur in the peroxisomes, which also have a controlling function in essential fatty acid synthesis. Long-chain monoenoic fatty acids are known to enhance peroxisomal beta-oxidation. An hypothesis is therefore advanced that marine oils rich in long-chain monoenoic fatty acids improve haemostasis in a favourable way with regard to coronary heart disease through increased peroxisomal beta-oxidation and increased synthesis of long-chain n-3 fatty acids.
Opstvedt
J
J
Norwegian Herring Meal and Oil Industry Research Institute, Fyllingsdalen, Norway. ssf@nippy1.rn.mbs.no
D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008830:Microbodies / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological
D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D008055:Lipids