Essential fatty acids and human brain - PubMed (original) (raw)

Affiliations

PMID: 20329590

Review

Essential fatty acids and human brain

Chia-Yu Chang et al. Acta Neurol Taiwan. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

The human brain is nearly 60 percent fat. We've learned in recent years that fatty acids are among the most crucial molecules that determine your brain's integrity and ability to perform. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are required for maintenance of optimal health but they can not synthesized by the body and must be obtained from dietary sources. Clinical observation studies has related imbalance dietary intake of fatty acids to impaired brain performance and diseases. Most of the brain growth is completed by 5-6 years of age. The EFAs, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids, are important for brain development during both the fetal and postnatal period. Dietary decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is needed for the optimum functional maturation of the retina and visual cortex, with visual acuity and mental development seemingly improved by extra DHA. Beyond their important role in building the brain structure, EFAs, as messengers, are involved in the synthesis and functions of brain neurotransmitters, and in the molecules of the immune system. Neuronal membranes contain phospholipid pools that are the reservoirs for the synthesis of specific lipid messengers on neuronal stimulation or injury. These messengers in turn participate in signaling cascades that can either promote neuronal injury or neuroprotection. The goal of this review is to give a new understanding of how EFAs determine our brain's integrity and performance, and to recall the neuropsychiatric disorders that may be influenced by them. As we further unlock the mystery of how fatty acids affect the brain and better understand the brain's critical dependence on specific EFAs, correct intake of the appropriate diet or supplements becomes one of the tasks we undertake in pursuit of optimal wellness.

PubMed Disclaimer

Cited by

Sult2b1 deficiency exacerbates ischemic stroke by promoting pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization in mice.
Wang Y, Jin H, Wang Y, Yao Y, Yang C, Meng J, Tan X, Nie Y, Xue L, Xu B, Zhao H, Wang F. Wang Y, et al. Theranostics. 2021 Nov 1;11(20):10074-10090. doi: 10.7150/thno.61646. eCollection 2021. Theranostics. 2021. PMID: 34815805 Free PMC article.
Changes in adipose tissue physiology during the first two weeks posthatch in chicks from lines selected for low or high body weight.
Xiao Y, Wang G, Gerrard ME, Wieland S, Davis M, Cline MA, Siegel PB, Gilbert ER. Xiao Y, et al. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Jun 1;316(6):R802-R818. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00017.2019. Epub 2019 Apr 10. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019. PMID: 30969842 Free PMC article.
Relevance of ω-6 GLA Added to ω-3 PUFAs Supplements for ADHD: A Narrative Review.
D'Helft J, Caccialanza R, Derbyshire E, Maes M. D'Helft J, et al. Nutrients. 2022 Aug 10;14(16):3273. doi: 10.3390/nu14163273. Nutrients. 2022. PMID: 36014778 Free PMC article. Review.
Combination Therapy for Sustainable Fish Oil Products: Improving Cognitive Function with n-3 PUFA and Natural Ingredients.
Arsecularatne A, Kapini R, Liu Y, Chang D, Münch G, Zhou X. Arsecularatne A, et al. Biomedicines. 2024 Jun 3;12(6):1237. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12061237. Biomedicines. 2024. PMID: 38927446 Free PMC article. Review.
The Neuroprotective Role of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Wild) Supplementation in Hippocampal Morphology and Memory of Adolescent Stressed Rats.
Terreros G, Pérez MÁ, Muñoz-LLancao P, D'Espessailles A, Martínez EA, Dagnino-Subiabre A. Terreros G, et al. Nutrients. 2024 Jan 27;16(3):381. doi: 10.3390/nu16030381. Nutrients. 2024. PMID: 38337665 Free PMC article.

Essential fatty acids and human brain - PubMed (original) (raw)