title: The influence of dietary docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid on central nervous system polyunsaturated fatty acid composition.
abstract: Numerous studies on perinatal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid nutrition have clarified the influence of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) on central nervous system PUFA concentrations. In humans, omnivorous primates, and piglets, DHA and ARA plasma and red blood cells concentrations rise with dietary preformed DHA and ARA. Brain and retina DHA are responsive to diet while ARA is not. DHA is at highest concentration in cells and tissues associated with high energy consumption, consistent with high DHA levels in mitochondria and synaptosomes. DHA is a substrate for docosanoids, signaling compounds of intense current interest. The high concentration in tissues with high rates of oxidative metabolism may be explained by a critical role related to oxidative metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. jtb4@cornell.edu
authors.forename: J Thomas
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brenna
authors.forename: Guan-Yeu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Diau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid