Omega-3 Fatty Acids and their Role in Central Nervous System - A Review

Title:Omega-3 Fatty Acids and their Role in Central Nervous System - A Review

Volume: 23 Issue: 8

Author(s): Tomasz Wysoczański, Ewa Sokoła-Wysoczańska, Jolanta Pękala, Stanisław Lochyński, Katarzyna Czyż, Robert Bodkowski, Grzegorz Herbinger, Bożena Patkowska-Sokoła and Tadeusz Librowski

Affiliation:

Keywords: Alpha-linolenic acid, ALA, blood-brain barrier, central nervous system, essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are crucial for our health and wellbeing; therefore, they have been widely investigated for their roles in maintaining human health and in disease treatment. Most Western diets include significant amount of saturated and omega-6 fatty acids and insufficient quantity of omega-3; however, the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA, in particular, is essential for the formation of pro- and anti-inflammatory lipids to promote health and prevent disease. As our daily diet affects our health, this paper draws attention to unique representatives of the omega-3 fatty acid group: alpha-linolenic acid and its derivatives. Recently, this has been shown to be effective in treating and preventing various diseases. It has been confirmed that omega-3 PUFAs may act as therapeutic agents as well and their significant role against inflammatory diseases, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, has been described. Some of nutritional factors have been described as a significant modifiers, which can influence brain elasticity and thus, effect on central nervous system functioning. Therefore, appropriate dietary management appears to be a non-invasive and effective approach to counteract neurological and cognitive disorders.

Cite this article as:

Wysoczański Tomasz, Sokoła-Wysoczańska Ewa, Pękala Jolanta, Lochyński Stanisław, Czyż Katarzyna, Bodkowski Robert, Herbinger Grzegorz, Patkowska-Sokoła Bożena and Librowski Tadeusz, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and their Role in Central Nervous System - A Review, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2016; 23(8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867323666160122114439