Essential fatty acids are fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by themselves and must be obtained from food.For humans, only two fatty acids are "essential fatty acids": one called "linoleic acid" (a Omega-6 unsaturated fatty acid) and "fagenic acid" (a Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid).Other kinds of fatty acids can be gradually synthesized by these two kinds as raw materials.
"Linoleic acid" (a Omega-6 unsaturated fatty acid) is polyunsaturated fatty acid, and other ω-6 is polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the substrate arachidonic acid synthesized by proachlandin, can be converted from linoleic acid.If linoleic acid is insufficient in food, arachidonic acid is essential for nutrients.
「α-linagenic acid(ALA) " (a Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid), which can be converted into ω-3 unsaturated fatty acid (EPA,20:5), hexaenoic acid (DHA,22:6), dosahexaenoic acid (DPA,22:5), but this conversion rate is low, and fish oil is rich in EPA and DHA, so it can also directly supplement these two important polyunsaturated fatty acids through fish oil.
Physiologic function of essential fatty acids
Essentiential fatty acids have many important physiological functions in the body, and the lack of essential fatty acids causes growth retardation, reproductive disorders, rashes as well as kidney, liver, neurological and visual disorders.
Among the lipids that constitute various cellular membrane components, the fatty acids are mostly essential fatty acids, which are important in maintaining the integrity and cell membrane physiological function.Can promote human growth and development, and maintain the health of the skin and capillaries.Essentiential fatty acids in a good nutritional state, can maintain the skin luster; on the contrary, essential fatty acid deficiency, cell membrane permeability changes, make the skin dry, rash, etc.
As a component of synthetic cholesterol esters and phospholipids, essential fatty acids can reduce blood cholesterol, reduce platelet adhesion, prevent thrombosis, and help prevent chronic diseases such as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.
Meanwhile, essential fatty acids are also raw materials for synthetic human prostaglandins.Prostaglandins can be synthesized in almost all cells with multiple functions, with reduced unsaturated fatty acids in the blood of infants with eczema, possibly due to the lack of essential fatty acids, commonly treated with bean or peanut oils.
Omega-3 can regulate attention and cognitive abilities.DHA has a good effect in maintaining vision, and α-linagenic acid is in turn a precursor of DHA.Enough essential fatty acids in the diet can delay aging, especially for the problems of reduced vision and reduced cognitive ability in the elderly.
