Essential Fatty Acids
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are fats that are required by the human body, but cannot be made by the body; therefore they must be obtained from external forces such as food. EFAs are the building blocks of all fats and oils and are required for both metabolic processes and for fuel. EFAs form the main component in the fats carried in our blood stream (triglycerides), fats stored in our bodies and of cell membranes (phospholipids). (Erasmus, 1993), (Wikipedia, Essential Fatty Acids, 2012)
Two fundamental EFAs that are required by the human body are; omega-3, called alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) and omega-6 called linoleic acid (LA). The correct balance between these two EFAs in the body is important for the healthy function of the body. (Wikipedia, Essential Fatty Acids, 2012)
Essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats with double bonds in specific positions – at carbon 3 in the case of LNA and carbon 6 in the case of LA. Although plants and animals are able to introduce double-bonds in to fatty acids to some degree; animals are not able to introduce double-bonds in to these crucial carbon 3 and carbon 6 positions, hence the requirement to obtain LA and LNA from external sources. (Erasmus, 1993)
As with all fatty acid molecules, EFAs comprise of an aliphatic chain of hydrogencarbons with carboxylic acid at one end and a CH3 molecule at the other end. (see Figure 1.):
Figure 1. Basic structure of a fatty acid (saturated) (Erasmus, 1993, p. 15)
The hydrogencarbon chain end of the molecule is hydrophobic i.e. It is water-insoluble, but is soluble in oil and is non-polar. The acid end of a fatty acid molecule is a weak acid called carboxylic acid which has the formula –COOH. It is hydrophilic i.e. It is water-soluble and does not dissolve in oil. It is polar. EFAs are called polyunsaturated fats as they contain more than one double-bond:
Omega-3, or alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) is a polyunsaturated EFA with three double-bonds. It has a
Two fundamental EFAs that are required by the human body are; omega-3, called alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) and omega-6 called linoleic acid (LA). The correct balance between these two EFAs in the body is important for the healthy function of the body. (Wikipedia, Essential Fatty Acids, 2012)
Essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats with double bonds in specific positions – at carbon 3 in the case of LNA and carbon 6 in the case of LA. Although plants and animals are able to introduce double-bonds in to fatty acids to some degree; animals are not able to introduce double-bonds in to these crucial carbon 3 and carbon 6 positions, hence the requirement to obtain LA and LNA from external sources. (Erasmus, 1993)
As with all fatty acid molecules, EFAs comprise of an aliphatic chain of hydrogencarbons with carboxylic acid at one end and a CH3 molecule at the other end. (see Figure 1.):
Figure 1. Basic structure of a fatty acid (saturated) (Erasmus, 1993, p. 15)
The hydrogencarbon chain end of the molecule is hydrophobic i.e. It is water-insoluble, but is soluble in oil and is non-polar. The acid end of a fatty acid molecule is a weak acid called carboxylic acid which has the formula –COOH. It is hydrophilic i.e. It is water-soluble and does not dissolve in oil. It is polar. EFAs are called polyunsaturated fats as they contain more than one double-bond:
Omega-3, or alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) is a polyunsaturated EFA with three double-bonds. It has a
Cited: Erasmus, U. (1993). Fats that Heal Fats that Kill. Wikipedia. (2012, September 2). Essential Fatty Acids. Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acid Wikipedia. (2011, July 17). Fatty acid desaturase. Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid_desaturase Wikipedia. (2012, September 5). Fatty Acids. Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acids#Metabolism Wills, J. (2007). The Food Bible.