Essential fatty acids

Biochemistry for medical students

1. Muhammad Umer Zafar (2191)
Turan Kaya (2148)

2. Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are fatty
acids that humans and other animals must
ingest because the body requires them for
good health but cannot synthesise them.
Only two fatty acids are known to be essential
for humans:
1.Alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid)
2.Linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid).
Muhammad and Turan

3. Some other fatty acids are sometimes
classified as "conditionally essential,"
meaning that they can become essential
under some developmental or disease
conditions; examples include
Docosahexaenoic acid (an omega-3 fatty
acid)
Gamma-linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid).
Arachidonic acid-can be synthesized
in human from Linoleic acid, which is
also considered as Essential.
Muhammad and Turan

4. Essential fatty acids are classified as part of
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA)
PUFA contains more than one double bond in
their back bone.

Muhammad and Turan

5. Muhammad and Turan
Cis-isomers
No interaction of π electrons of double bonds
(there is –CH2- between double bonds)
Classification according to ω class (the
position of the last = according to the last –
CH3 group, ω group) most important ω6
group and ω3 types (n-6, n-3)
ω3 aplha-Linolenic acid
ω6 Linoleic acid

6. Muhammad and Turan
Play a part in the in the structure of the all cell
membranes (phospholipids and glycolipids)
Phospholipids are components of Lipoproteins-
transport of lipids in blood
Play a role in the process of cell signalling
Also a substrate for synthesis of Eicosanoids
Eicosanoids are considered "local
hormones." They have specific effects
on target cells close to their site of
formation.

7. Muhammad and Turan
Essential Fatty Acids
Linoleic Acid
Α-linolenic acid
Conditionally Essential
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Docosahexaenoic acid
Arachidonic Acid (from linoleic acid)

8. Muhammad and Turan

Linoleic Acid
In plant nutrition
Oil from
maize
Sesame
Sunflower
Olives




Peanuts
Linseeds
Soybean
Egg yolk

9. Muhammad and Turan

Arachidonic
Acid
Beef
Chicken
Pork







Mother Milk
Egg yolk

10. Muhammad and Turan

Eicosapentaenoic
/
Docosahexaenoic
Acid
Fish oil
Egg Yolk
Mother milk







Meat from fatty
coldwater fishes
(salmon, herring,
sardines,
mackerel)

11. Muhammad and Turan

α-Linolenic
Acid
Flax seed oil
Walnuts





Soybean oil
Spinach

12. Cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Inflammation
Developmental disabilities
Mental health
Cognitive aging
Atopic diseases
Risk of deficiency

Muhammad and Turan

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