"ESSENTIAL" fatty acids
I've just discovered that essential fatty acids are called Essential, because they cannot be synthesized in the body; they must be obtained from food.
It was one of those "aaahhhhh" moments.
So I thought I'd share it with you.
From Wiki:-
As fats are macronutrients they are not assigned recommended daily allowances.
Macronutrients have AI (Acceptable Intake) and AMDR (Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range) instead of RDAs.
The AI for n-3 is 1.6 grams/day for men and 1.1 grams/day for women[1] while the AMDR is 0.6% to 1.2% of total energy.[2]
"A growing body of literature suggests that higher intakes of α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may afford some degree of protection against coronary heart disease. Because the physiological potency of EPA and DHA is much greater than that for α-linolenic acid, it is not possible to estimate one AMDR for all n-3 fatty acids. Approximately 10 percent of the AMDR can be consumed as EPA and/or DHA."[2]
and the chemistry (for Rob):-
The term omega-3 (aka "n-3", "ω-3") signifies that the first double bond exists as the third carbon-carbon bond from the terminal methyl end (ω) of the carbon chain.
Omega-3 fatty acids which are important in human nutrition are: alpha-linolenic acid (18:3, ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, DHA).
These three polyunsaturates have either 3, 5 or 6 double bonds in a carbon chain of 18, 20 or 22 carbon atoms, respectively. All double bonds are in the cis-configuration, i.e. the two hydrogen atoms are on the same side of the double bond.
Structurally, omega-3 fatty acids are helically twisted, because every cis- double bond, separated by a methylene group, changes the carbon chain's direction. This configuration may explain a host of biological phenomena observed in structures that are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane.
Good stuff, eh?
I've tried to upload a diagram of one of these molecules, but the ghosts in the machine are having none of it, today.
It was one of those "aaahhhhh" moments.
So I thought I'd share it with you.
From Wiki:-
As fats are macronutrients they are not assigned recommended daily allowances.
Macronutrients have AI (Acceptable Intake) and AMDR (Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range) instead of RDAs.
The AI for n-3 is 1.6 grams/day for men and 1.1 grams/day for women[1] while the AMDR is 0.6% to 1.2% of total energy.[2]
"A growing body of literature suggests that higher intakes of α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may afford some degree of protection against coronary heart disease. Because the physiological potency of EPA and DHA is much greater than that for α-linolenic acid, it is not possible to estimate one AMDR for all n-3 fatty acids. Approximately 10 percent of the AMDR can be consumed as EPA and/or DHA."[2]
and the chemistry (for Rob):-
The term omega-3 (aka "n-3", "ω-3") signifies that the first double bond exists as the third carbon-carbon bond from the terminal methyl end (ω) of the carbon chain.
Omega-3 fatty acids which are important in human nutrition are: alpha-linolenic acid (18:3, ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, DHA).
These three polyunsaturates have either 3, 5 or 6 double bonds in a carbon chain of 18, 20 or 22 carbon atoms, respectively. All double bonds are in the cis-configuration, i.e. the two hydrogen atoms are on the same side of the double bond.
Structurally, omega-3 fatty acids are helically twisted, because every cis- double bond, separated by a methylene group, changes the carbon chain's direction. This configuration may explain a host of biological phenomena observed in structures that are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane.
Good stuff, eh?
I've tried to upload a diagram of one of these molecules, but the ghosts in the machine are having none of it, today.
posted by chris at 10:38 am
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