Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) could help prevent and treat a
wide range of diseases, according to studies presented during the International
Conference on Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids in Nutrition and Disease
Prevention in Barcelona. And a leading expert predicted that the role of essential
fatty acids generally - and omega-3 PUFAs in particular - will grow still further.
"The appreciation that omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in human
development, physiology and in the treatment and prevention of certain
diseases, is a recent phenomenon," said William Connor, Professor of Medicine,
School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland. "The papers
presented during this conference shows the diversity of roles that omega-3 fatty
acids play in human development and disease." Dr. Connor reminded delegates
that omega-3 fatty acids are critical components in the membranes of nerves,
retina and brains. As a result, ensuring an adequate dietary intake of omega-3
PUFAs and other essential fatty acids -which cannot be synthesised by the
body - is important. The daily requirement is probably around a teaspoon of
essential fatty acids a day. "The signs of omega-3 deficiency in infancy are
subtle," Dr. Connor said. "For example, omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in infants
can translate into impaired vision, abnormalities on the electroretinogram - which
measures retinal nerve function - and behavioural changes such as polydypsia
(excessive thirst), hyperactivity and perhaps less cognitive ability. Some of these
changes have been described only in subhuman primates." Fetuses receive
omega-3 fatty acids from the maternal diet and new-borns from human milk. "So
it's clearly essential for pregnant and breast feeding women to ensure their
dietary intake of omega-3 PUFA is adequate," Dr. Connor added. "For example,
the synthesis of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from alphalinolenic acid is
sluggish in new-born babies. As docosahexaenoic acid is critical for neural
function, membranes and growth it should likely be included in infant formulas."
Dr. Connor commented that other preventative roles for the omega-3 fatty acids
have emerged over the last 20 years. "The list of diseases in which omega-3
fatty acids from fish and fish oil may play a role is so large that cautious
scepticism may be warranted," he said. "Nevertheless, the data is fairly
convincing. Omega-3 fatty acids seem to reduce certain symptoms associated
with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, some skin conditions and
cardiovascular diseases ranging from hypertension, through atherosclerosis, to
hyperlipidaemia and cardiac arrhythmias. And the list grows longer each year.
There are undoubtedly still some interesting discoveries waiting to be
made in this very exciting field." International Conference on Highly
unsaturated fatty acids in nutrition and disease prevention.
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