Category Archives: Delta 6-desaturase

Flaxseed Oil: Is Fish Oil Superior?

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Humans require two essential fatty acids, alpha linolenic acid and linoleic acid. These fatty acids are essential because they are metabolised to important cellular signal molecules called eicosanoids. Alpha linolenic acid belongs to the omega 3 family of fatty acids, … Continue reading →

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Alpha Linolenic Acid: Inferior to Fish Oil?

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Alpha linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) is an essential fatty acid. Therefore alpha linolenic acid is required for heath but cannot be synthesised endogenously, and so must be present in the diet. Most humans possess a deficiency of the gene … Continue reading →

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Alcohol Raises Plasma Omega 3 Concentrations: We Have a Winner

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Alcohol is interesting because despite its unhealthy reputation within the mainstream, even relatively high intakes are protective of disease. In particular, alcohol appears to protect from cardiovascular disease, and a number of mechanisms have been put forward to explain this … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Alpha Linolenic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Delta 6-desaturase, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosanoids, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Fish, Fish Oils, Flax Oil | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Alcohol Raises Plasma Omega 3 Concentrations: We Have a Winner

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Robert Barrington

pidemiological studies suggest that consuming fish is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Fish may be protective of cardiovascular disease because of the long-chain fatty acids contained within it. Fish oil accumulates in the skin of some species … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Disease, Delta 5-desaturase, Delta 6-desaturase, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosanoids, Docosapentaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish, Fish Oils | Tagged , | Comments Off on So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Delta 6-desaturase: The Essential Fatty Acid Roadblock

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, C20:5 (n-3)) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA, C22:6 (n-3)) are precursors to a number of important signal molecules that are required for cell function. These long-chain fatty acids accumulate in cell membranes and are then used by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Cardiovascular Disease, Delta 5-desaturase, Delta 6-desaturase, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosanoids, Docosapentaenoic Acid, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Eicosatraenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Fish, Fish Oils, Flax Oil, Immune System, Inflammation, Linoleic Acid, Stearidonic Acid | Comments Off on Delta 6-desaturase: The Essential Fatty Acid Roadblock

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