Omega-3 fatty acids for nutrition and medicine: considering microalgae oil as a vegetarian source of EPA and DHA.
Long-chain EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can be co-preventative and co-therapeutic. Current research suggests increasing accumulated long chain omega-3s for health benefits and as natural medicine in several major diseases. But many believe plant omega-3 sources are nutritionally and therapeutically equivalent to the EPA/DHA omega-3 in fish oil. Although healthy, precursor ALA bio-conversion to EPA is inefficient and production of DHA is nearly absent, limiting the protective value of ALA supplementation from flax-oil, for example. Along with pollutants certain fish acquire high levels of EPA/DHA as predatory species. However, the origin of EPA/DHA in aquatic ecosystems is algae. Certain microalgae produce high levels of EPA or DHA. Now, organically produced DHA-rich microalgae oil is available. Clinical trials with DHA-rich oil indicate comparable efficacies to fish oil for protection from cardiovascular risk factors by lowering plasma triglycerides and oxidative stress. This review discusses 1) omega-3 fatty acids in nutrition and medicine; 2) omega-3s in physiology and gene regulation; 3) possible protective mechanisms of EPA/DHA in major diseases such as coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, cancer and type 2 diabetes; 4) EPA and DHA requirements considering fish oil safety; and 5) microalgae EPA and DHA-rich oils and recent clinical results.
Doughman
Scott D
SD
Department of Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Nilayam, India.
Krupanidhi
Srirama
S
Sanjeevi
Carani B
CB
D000818:Animals; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000737:chemistry*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000379:methods
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid