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Review Papers | Nutrition Science | India | Volume 11 Issue 7, July 2022

Role of Omega 3 Fatty Acid in Human Health

Anusree Giri | Sandip Das | Manasree Giri | Dr. Santanu Panda

Abstract: In this paper based on doctrinal research, the article highlight the three types of omega?3 fatty acids involved in human physiology are ?-linolenic acid (ALA), found in plant oils, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both commonly found in marine oils. Marine algae and phytoplankton are primary sources of omega?3 fatty acids. Common sources of plant oils containing ALA include walnut, edible seeds, clary sage seed oil, algal oil, flaxseed oil, Sacha Inchi oil, Echium oil, and hemp oil, while sources of animal omega?3 fatty acids EPA and DHA include fish, fish oils, eggs from chickens fed EPA and DHA, squid oils, and krill oil. Dietary supplementation with omega?3 fatty acids does not appear to affect the risk of death, cancer or heart disease. Furthermore, fish oil supplement studies have failed to support claims of preventing heart attacks or strokes. Omega?3 fatty acids are important for normal metabolism. Mammals are unable to synthesize omega?3 fatty acids, but can obtain the shorter-chain omega?3 fatty acid ALA (18 carbons and 3 double bonds) through diet and use it to form the more important long-chain omega?3 fatty acids, EPA (20 carbons and 5 double bonds) and then from EPA, the most crucial, DHA (22 carbons and 6 double bonds). The ability to make the longer-chain omega?3 fatty acids from ALA may be impaired in aging. In foods exposed to air, unsaturated fatty acids are vulnerable to oxidation and rancidity.

Keywords: Omega-3, Mammals, Phospholipids, metabolism, eicosapentaenoic

Edition: Volume 11 Issue 7, July 2022,

Pages: 1796 - 1803