Research Center
Division of Education
Heli J. Roy, PhD
Shanna Lundy, BS
Phillip Brantley, PhD, Director
Information:
PBRC 2005
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Alpha-linolenic acid
(ALA)
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Alpha-linolenic Acid
Humans can synthesize other omega-3 fatty acids from ALA:
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): 20:5n-3
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): 22:6n-3
These two are usually referred to as marine-derived
omega-3 fatty acids because they are abundant in
certain species of fish
Whereas, ALA is considered a plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid
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Serving
Flaxseed oil
Walnuts, English
Flaxseeds
Walnut Oil
Canola Oil
Mustard Oil
Soybean Oil
Walnuts, Black
Olive Oil
Broccoli, raw
1 tablespoon
Alpha-linolenic
acid (g)
8.5
1 ounce
2.6
1 tablespoon
2.2
1 tablespoon
1.4
1 tablespoon
1.2
1 tablespoon
0.8
1 tablespoon
0.9
1 ounce
0.6
1 tablespoon
0.1
1 cup, chopped
0.1
Amt providing 1 g
of EPA + DHA
Serving
EPA (g)
DHA (g)
3 ounces
1.06
.75
1.5 ounces
3 ounces
.86
.62
2 ounces
3 ounces
.28
.95
2.5 ounces
3 ounces
.75
.43
2.5 ounces
3 ounces
.45
.60
3 ounces
3 ounces
.40
.44
3.5 ounces
3 ounces
.20
.54
4 ounces
3 ounces
.24
.10
9 ounces
Shrimp, cooked
3 ounces
.15
.12
11 ounces
3 ounces
.09
.15
12.5 ounces
1 gram
.13
.09
5 grams
1 gram
.13
.18
3 grams
Docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA)
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Disease Prevention:
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Fish Consumption
One study followed 1,822 men for 30 years and found that
mortality from CHD was 38% lower in men who consumed an
average of at least 35 g (1.2 ounces) of fish daily than in men
who did not eat fish, while mortality from myocardial infarction
(MI) was 67% lower
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ALA Consumption
And Coronary Heart Disease
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CHD Treatment
Results of randomized controlled trials in individuals with
documented coronary heart disease suggest a beneficial effect
of dietary and supplemental omega-3 fatty acids
Therefore, the American Heart Association has recommended
that individuals with documented CHD consume 1 g/d of EPA
and DHA combined
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Fish Consumption
And Sudden Cardiac Death
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Fish Consumption
And Stroke
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Cancer
Marine-derived fatty acids have been found to inhibit proliferation and
promote apoptosis in breast, prostate, and colon cancer cell lines
cultured outside the body
Studies in animal models of cancer also indicate that increased intake
of EPA and DHA decreases the occurrence and progression of
mammary, prostate, and intestinal tumors
However, in humans few have demonstrated significant inverse
relationships between fish or omega-3 fatty acid intake and the risk for
breast, prostate, or colorectal cancers
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Diabetes Mellitus
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in individuals
with diabetes
Hypertriglyceridemia (fasting serum TG of 200 mg/dl or higher) is a
common lipid abnormality in individuals with Type 2 diabetes
A number of randomized controlled trials have found that fish oil
supplementation significantly lowers serum triglyceride levels in
diabetic individuals
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Diabetes Mellitus
But, few control trials have examined the effect of fish
oil supplementation on cardiovascular disease outcomes
in diabetics
One prospective study, following 5103 women diagnosed with type 2
DM but free of cardiovascular disease at the start of the study, found
decreased risks
Those with higher fish intakes were associated with significantly
decreased risks of CHD over the 16 years that the study
lasted
for, suggesting that increasing EPA and DHA levels may be beneficial to
diabetic individuals, especially those with elevated serum triglycerides
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Inflammatory Diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis
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Inflammatory Diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis
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Ulcerative Colitis
Asthma
Although there is some evidence that omega-3 fatty acid
supplementation can decrease the production of inflammatory
mediators in asthmatic patients, evidence that omega-3 fatty
acid supplementation decreases the clinical severity of asthma
in controlled trials has been inconsistent
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Immunoglobulin A
nephropathy
A kidney disorder that results from the deposition of the immune
system protein IgA in the glomeruli (filtering region) of the
kidney
The cause is unclear, but progressive renal failure may
eventually develop in 15-40% of patients
Since glomerular IgA deposition results in increased production
of inflammatory mediators, it is thought that omega-3 fatty acid
supplementation could potentially modulate the inflammatory
response and preserve renal function
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Immunoglobulin A
nephropathy
Several studies have been conducted showing no real significant
benefits, and continuing declines in renal functioning in some
However, the probability of a minor beneficial effect was high enough
(75%) to provide support for a large placebo-controlled trial of at least
two years duration
Currently, researchers are conducting this study, comparing fish oil to
alternate day prednisone treatment and a placebo in children and
young adults
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Major Depression
And Bipolar Disorder
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Major Depression
And Bipolar Disorder
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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic disabling brain disorder that affects
approximately 1% of the population
A pilot study in 45 schizophrenic patients found
that the addition of 2 g/day of EPA to standard
antipsychotic therapy was superior to the addition of
a 2 g/day to DHA or a placebo in decreasing residual symptoms
Although limited evidence does suggest that EPA supplementation
may be a useful adjunct to antipsychotic therapy in schizophrenic
patients, larger long-term studies addressing clinically relevant
outcomes are needed
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References
Montori VM, Farmer A, Wollan PC, Dinneen SF. Diabetes Care. 2000;23(9):1407-1415.
Hu FB, Cho E, Rexrode KM, Albert CM, Manson JE. Circulation. 2003;107(14):1852-1857.
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References
Stoll AL, Severus WE, Freeman MP, et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56(5):407-412.
Peet M, Brind J, Ramchand CN, Shah S, Vankar GK. Schizophr Res. 2001;49(3):243251.
Joy CB, Mumby-Croft R, Joy LA. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000(2):CD001257
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/index.html
http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&q=
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