Omega 3

Omega 3 полиненасыщенные жирные кислоты (ПНЖК) считаются незаменимыми жирными кислотами. They are essential for human health, but the body cannot synthesize them, so we must obtain them through our diet. Omega 3 жирные кислоты называют «источником долголетия», они играют важную роль в функционировании мозга, а также необходимы для нормального роста и развития. Omega-3 fatty acids are gaining popularity because they can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

История полиненасыщенных жирных кислот Omega 3

Although omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been known since the 1930s as a necessary component for normal growth (in the form of fish oil), research in recent years has dramatically increased understanding of their role in the human body.
The first studies conducted in the 1970s showed that the Inuit of Greenland, who consumed a large amount of oily fish, had practically no heart disease and no atherosclerotic lesions. Other measures, such as triglyceride levels, blood pressure and heart rate, were also better than in other populations.
In the early 80s, Danish doctors J. Dyerberg and H. Bang, with their article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, stirred up the world scientific community with an interesting message: “among the Greenland Eskimos, cases of heart disease and arthritis are extremely rare, and the probable reason for this is marine fats in the diet. Further research has shown that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are needed to maintain the health of all body systems, but they are not synthesized by the human body, and the only way to get them is through food. The main sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are fish and seafood.

The American Heart Association recommends eating fish (especially oily fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, tuna, and salmon) at least 2 times a week.

In 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration recognized that consumption of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both of which are omega-3 fatty acids, may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. The Government of Canada has also recognized the importance of DHA in maintaining the normal development of the brain, eyes and nervous system.

Omega 3 scientifically

Omega 3 полиненасыщенные жирные кислоты относятся к семейству ненасыщенных жирных кислот, имеющих двойную углерод-углеродную связь в омега-3 позиции, то есть у третьего атома углерода от метилового конца жирной кислоты.
The most important omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are:
• alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
• eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
In addition to them, Omega 3 includes:
• Stioric acid (STD)
• Eicosatrienoic acid (ETE)
• Eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA)
• Docosapentaenoic acid (DPK), Klupanodonic acid
• Tetracosapentaenoic acid
• Tetracosahexaenoic acid (nisinic acid)

The human body is unable to synthesize these fatty acids from simpler substances.

Biological value of omega-3

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are an essential component of the human diet. All fatty acids are divided into saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In turn, PUFAs include two types of acids - omega-6 and omega-3 (Fig.).

Omega 3

Omega-6 acids are known to be rich in vegetable fats, such as sunflower oil. Whereas omega-3 acids are less available in the diet. These include α-linolenic, as well as omega-6 acids, available from vegetable oils, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which can be obtained exclusively from seafood.
The nutritional value of fatty foods is determined by their fatty acid composition and especially by the presence of PUFAs in them, which are an indispensable component of a balanced diet. Previously, in numerous works, it was proved that these substances are essential (indispensable), since the human body cannot synthesize them, but must receive daily in sufficient quantities with food. Many experts believe that approximately 80% of the population of continental countries consumes insufficient amounts of essential fatty acids. While the daily need for them is 10-20% of the total calories received. The lack of these nutrients pose a serious threat to health.
The main members of the omega-3 PUFA family are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). As is known, the main role of omega-3 fatty acids is to ensure the functioning of cell membranes, transmembrane ion channels and the regulation of physiological processes through the synthesis of lipid mediators. EPA and DHA are incorporated into the phospholipid layer of cell membranes and affect the fluidity of cell membranes by altering key functions such as enzymatic activity, signaling and receptor function. Given that it is cardiomyocytes, as well as other muscle cells and neurons, that are electrically active cells rich in ion channels, it becomes clear which organs are most sensitive to a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids.
In addition, omega-3 acids control the functioning of the immune and reproductive systems, being precursors for the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes and other cytokines.

Diet and ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids

The type of nutrition characteristic of a modern person is accompanied by a significant preponderance towards omega-6 PUFAs. So the ratio of "omega-3: omega-6" among residents of Europe and the USA is 1: 30, while for adherents of the "Mediterranean" type of nutrition, this ratio is 2: 1. It is the correct ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs that determines impressive difference in prevalence and mortality from cardiovascular diseases among the population of industrialized countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet of 5:1. Based on these data, the source and dosage of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of atherosclerosis is important acids.
For example, the minimum daily requirement for linoleic acid is 2–6 g, but this requirement increases in proportion to the proportion of saturated and trans fats entering the body.
The role of linoleic acid in metabolic processes is due to its spatial configuration and the arrangement of double chemical bonds. In nature, there are several spatial configurations (cis- and trans-isomers) of this acid, but only the cis-isomer is able to turn into arachidonic acid, and the trans-isomer does not have the necessary properties. This should be kept in mind when using various oils, fats, margarines and pastries offered by food manufacturers. The fact is that in the process of rejection of vegetable oils, during hydrogenation, isomerization of PUFAs occurs, as a result of which they can no longer be precursors of arachidonic acid and the human body is not able to assimilate them in the future.
If you consume a lot of saturated, hydrogenated fats and trans fatty acids, the body's absorption of omega-3 and omega-6 acids will be blocked!
It is absolutely proven that the deficiency of essential fatty acids is one of the most important causes of impaired cholesterol metabolism and the development of atherosclerosis.
Cooking marine fish during the cooking process, especially frying, leads to a significant decrease in the level of EPA and DHA in the final product. The use of fish oil as a source of EPA and DHA is not rational, since the high content of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in it can neutralize the positive effects, competing for incorporation into the phospholipid layer of cell membranes

Clinically proven effectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Based on the accumulated data of scientific observations and studies, it was concluded that for the use of omega-3 PUFAs in the complex therapy of patients with high cardiac risk and prophylactic purposes, it is advisable to use drugs containing only omega-3 PUFAs.
Thus, the double-blind placebo-controlled study "The Lyon Diet Heart Study", which included 4233 examined, was terminated due to the obvious effect: in individuals who received a diet containing an increased amount of PUFAs in the diet, the incidence of sudden coronary death decreased by 59% compared to the control group.
One of the most authoritative clinical studies on the effectiveness of omega-3 with the largest sample of patients after myocardial infarction (11,324 people) is a European randomized placebo-controlled trial - "GISSI-Prevenzione trial", which showed a significant reduction in mortality by 29.7% in the group of patients who took 850 mg capsules of omega-3 PUFAs in combination with 300 mg of vitamin E.
There are already more than 70 placebo-controlled studies that have used a combination of EPA and DHA in an amount of 1 to 7 g per day for a long period (2 weeks or more). A lipid-lowering effect was demonstrated in 25% of patients with normal blood lipid levels and in 28% of patients with hyperlipidemia.

Pharmacodynamics of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

The lipid-lowering effect of omega-3 PUFAs is to suppress the synthesis of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins in hepatocytes, accelerate their excretion and increase bile excretion.
The antiplatelet effect of omega-3 PUFAs is based on a decrease in the production of thromboxane A by platelets, an increase in the level of tissue plasminogen activator and an improvement in the fluidity of the erythrocyte membrane, which leads to a decrease in viscosity and an improvement in the rheological properties of blood.
The anti-inflammatory effect of omega-3 PUFAs is due to the incorporation of monocytes, leukocytes, endothelial cells into the phospholipid layer of cell membranes, which is accompanied by a decrease in the production of inflammatory mediators, a decrease in leukocyte adhesion to the endothelial wall.
The antiarrhythmic effect of omega-3 PUFAs is the most studied and research in this area continues. The incorporation of omega-3 PUFAs into the cell membranes of cardiomyocytes changes the transmembrane current of Ca2+ and Na+ ions, which is accompanied by stabilization of the electrical potential of the membrane and prevents rhythm disturbances in conditions of myocardial ischemia.
Omega 3 ПНЖК влияют на синтез простагландинов, регулирующих сосудистый тонус и препятствующих вазоконстрикции сосудов под влиянием катехоламинов, что обуславливает умеренный гипотензивный эффект.

The role of omega-3 PUFAs in the treatment of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction

Coronary heart disease (CHD) in any of its forms and complications, including sudden death, is a huge medical and social problem, so it is necessary to prevent the further development of the