Long-chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and the Human Diet: Assumptions and Challenges

Gladyshev, Michail I.; Sushchik, Nadezhda N.

doi:10.3390/biom9090485

Cited by 52 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 140 publications

(200 reference statements)

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“…While much of the recent research on the benefits of dietary PUFAs has concentrated on humans, such fatty acids are important for other animals. Gladyshev and Sushchik have reviewed ecosystems, with regard to VLCPUFA [48]. There are many examples where various animals (e.g., zooplankton, Daphnia ) benefit from an adequate supply of appropriate PUFA from algae (e.g., [49,50,51,52]).…”

Section: Fish As a Source Of Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fattymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the increasing demand for VLCPUFA, as well as the problems with maintaining fish supplies, it is clear that this is a serious issue, that needs to be addressed urgently. Some calculations about the amounts of EPA and DHA which will be needed in the future [48] and possible shortfalls due to climate change [54] have been made.…”

Section: Fish As a Source Of Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fattymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The above conundrum has led to a serious examination of algae to supplement the demand for n-3 PUFA, especially EPA and DHA, for human nutrition. As discussed in [48], it is generally thought that ‘many animals’ and ‘most invertebrates’ need to have EPA and DHA in their diet, because of their limited ability to synthesise them from ALA [84]. However, quantitative evidence is currently somewhat lacking [48].…”

Section: Algal Production Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Harwood

2019

Biomolecules

121

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Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are divided into n-3 and n-6 classes, are essential for good health in humans and many animals. They are metabolised to lipid mediators, such as eicosanoids, resolvins and protectins. Increasing interest has been paid to the 20 or 22 carbon very long chain PUFAs, since these compounds can be used to form lipid mediators and, thus, avoid inefficient formation of dietary plant PUFAs. The ultimate sources of very long chain PUFAs are algae, which are consumed by fish and then by humans. In this review, I describe the biosynthesis of very long chain PUFAs by algae and how this synthesis can be manipulated for commercial purposes. Ultimately, the production of algal oils is critical for ecosystems worldwide, as well as for human dietary lipids.

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Section: Fish As a Source Of Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fattymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fish As a Source Of Very Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fattymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Algal Production Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Harwood

2019

Biomolecules

121

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“…Contents of omega-3 LC-PUFA in muscle tissue of diverse fish species greatly vary, approximatelỹ 400-fold [22]. The question arises what part of this variation in total EPA and DHA contents is provided by TAG or PL variability?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Fatty Acid Contents in Major Lipid Classes of Seven Salmonid Species from Siberian Arctic Lakes

et al. 2020

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Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) essential for human nutrition are mostly obtained from wild-caught fish. To sustain the LC-PUFA supply from natural populations, one needs to know how environmental and intrinsic factors affect fish fatty acid (FA) profiles and contents. We studied seven Salmoniformes species from two arctic lakes. We aimed to estimate differences in the FA composition of total lipids and two major lipid classes, polar lipids (PL) and triacylglycerols (TAG), among the species and to evaluate LC-PUFA contents corresponding to PL and TAG in muscles. Fatty acid profiles of PL and TAG in all species were characterized by the prevalence of omega-3 LC-PUFA and C16-C18 monoenoic FA, respectively. Fish with similar feeding spectra were identified similarly in multivariate analyses of total lipids, TAG and PL, due to differences in levels of mostly the same FA. Thus, the suitability of both TAG and total lipids for the identification of the feeding spectra of fish was confirmed. All species had similar content of LC-PUFA esterified as PL, 1.9-3.5 mg g −1 , while the content of the TAG form strongly varied, from 0.9 to 9.8 mg g −1 . The LC-PUFA-rich fish species accumulated these valuable compounds predominately in the TAG form.

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“…It has been clear that understanding the molecular basis of LC-PUFA biosynthesis would underpin efforts to meet this challenge. Various strategies of human populations regarding EFA metabolism have been shown by Gladyshev and Sushchik this year [22]. Studies performed in fish are advantageous mainly because there is wide variation between fish species in their ability to biosynthesize LC-PUFA, probably as a consequence of inhabiting widely different environments.…”

Section: Significance and Essentiality Of Lc-pufa Biomoleculesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Fatty Acid Desaturase (Fads2) Structure-Function Properties in Fish in the Context of Environmental Adaptations and as a Target for Genetic Engineering

et al. 2020

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Fatty acid desaturase 2 (Fads2) is the key enzyme of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) biosynthesis. Endogenous production of these biomolecules in vertebrates, if present, is insufficient to meet demand. Hence, LC-PUFA are considered as conditionally essential. At present, however, LC-PUFA are globally limited nutrients due to anthropogenic factors. Research attention has therefore been paid to finding ways to maximize endogenous LC-PUFA production, especially in production species, whereby deeper knowledge on molecular mechanisms of enzymatic steps involved is being generated. This review first briefly informs about the milestones in the history of LC-PUFA essentiality exploration before it focuses on the main aim—to highlight the fascinating Fads2 potential to play roles fundamental to adaptation to novel environmental conditions. Investigations are summarized to elucidate on the evolutionary history of fish Fads2, providing an explanation for the remarkable plasticity of this enzyme in fish. Furthermore, structural implications of Fads2 substrate specificity are discussed and some relevant studies performed on organisms other than fish are mentioned in cases when such studies have to date not been conducted on fish models. The importance of Fads2 in the context of growing aquaculture demand and dwindling LC-PUFA supply is depicted and a few remedies in the form of genetic engineering to improve endogenous production of these biomolecules are outlined.

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Long-chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Natural Ecosystems and the Human Diet: Assumptions and Challenges

Cited by 52 publications

References 140 publications

Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Comparison of Fatty Acid Contents in Major Lipid Classes of Seven Salmonid Species from Siberian Arctic Lakes

Assessment of Fatty Acid Desaturase (Fads2) Structure-Function Properties in Fish in the Context of Environmental Adaptations and as a Target for Genetic Engineering

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