Category Archives: Delta 5-desaturase

Alpha Linolenic Acid: Has it Become Irrelevant?

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Humans lack the Δ15-destaurase enzyme necessary for the conversion of linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) to α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)). However, plants possess Δ15-destaurase and some plant foods are therefore good sources of ALA. In humans, plant derived ALA … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Delta 5-desaturase, Delta 6-desaturase, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish, Fish Oils, Flax Oil, Hemp | Comments Off on Alpha Linolenic Acid: Has it Become Irrelevant?

EPA and DHA: Regulators of Desaturase Expression

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Understanding genetic defects and their effects on metabolic pathways can be useful in the nutritional sciences. This is because diet can influence enzyme activity to a similar extent as genes. For example, Kilmer McCully identified homocysteine as a causative factor … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Delta 5-desaturase, Delta 6-desaturase, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish Oils | Comments Off on EPA and DHA: Regulators of Desaturase Expression

Essential Knowledge: Fatty Acids

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Plants possess two enzymes, Δ12-desaturase and Δ15-desaturase, that allow the synthesis of linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)), respectively. The Δ12-desaturase enzyme adds a double bond to a molecule of oleic acid (OA, C18:1 (n-9)) … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Delta 5-desaturase, Delta 6-desaturase, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosanoids, Docosapentaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Eicosatraenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Stearidonic Acid | Comments Off on Essential Knowledge: Fatty Acids