title: The role of the ω-3 fatty acid DHA in the human life cycle.
abstract: Dietary consumption of the essential fatty acids linoleic acid (LA; ω-6) and α-linolenic acid (ALA; ω-3) is necessary for human growth and development. In the past 150 years, the average Western diet has changed dramatically such that humans today consume a much higher proportion of ω-6 fatty acids relative to ω-3 fatty acids than ever before. The importance of ω-3 fatty acids in human development has been well established in fetal and neonatal development, with brain and retinal tissues highly dependent on ω-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for membrane fluidity and signal transduction. In childhood, ω-3s have been shown to contribute to ongoing cognitive development and may be involved in metabolic programming of bone turnover and adipogenesis. ω-3s may also play important roles in adult neurophysiology and disease prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and the Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Kalish
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gura
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puder
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis; D000328:Adult; D001842:Bone and Bones; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids