title: Dynamic interactions of n-3 and n-6 fatty acid nutrients.
abstract: Careful handling of data on fatty acid composition is needed when interpreting evidence for the influence of dietary n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids on brain function and health conditions. The relative dietary supplies of competing n-3 and n-6 nutrients determine the balance of 20- and 22-carbon n-3 and n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) which accumulate competitively at the 2-position of tissue phospholipids. In turn, the HUFA balance expressed as the %n-6 in HUFA affects the likely intensity of n-6 eicosanoid actions in diverse health conditions. As a result, measures of HUFA balance are important, valid biomarkers for designing and monitoring successful preventive nutrition interventions. Successful interventions must also consider the ability of fatty acid ligands to saturate binding sites of enzymes and receptors and give paradoxical dose-response results.
authors.affiliation: American Society for Nutrition, 6100 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD 20740, USA. Electronic address: wemlands@att.net.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lands
authors.affiliation: Lipid Technologies, LLC and The Center for Spirituality and Healing, The University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bibus
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University ofWaterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Stark
mesh_terms: D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
keywords: Arachidonic acid; Eicosanoids; Essential fatty acids; Linoleic acid; Omega-3; Omega-3 blood biomarker; Omega-6