title: Polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammation.
abstract: The n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid, is a precursor of prostaglandins, leukotrienes and related compounds that have important roles as mediators and regulators of inflammation. Consuming increased amounts of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (found in oily fish and fish oils) results in a partial replacement of the arachidonic acid in cell membranes by eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. This leads to decreased production of arachidonic acid-derived mediators. This alone is a potentially beneficial anti-inflammatory effect of n-3 fatty acids. However, n-3 fatty acids have a number of other effects that might occur downstream of altered eicosanoid production or are independent of this. For example, they result in suppressed production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and can modulate adhesion molecule expression. These effects occur at the level of altered gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK. pcc@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated