Omega-3s, trans-fats, polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acidùresearch facts about fatty acids and their relationship to heart disease and atherosclerosis, obesity, cancer, and neurological disorders abound. Chemical names appear on every nutrition label. But, just what do these terms mean in health and disease? The Fats of Life delineates the importance of essential fatty acids, with a focus on distinctions between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid variants. The chemical and biochemical characteristics of these fatty acids and their metabolism to a vast array of potent bioactive messengers are described in the context of their potential effects on general health and impact on various diseases and neurological disorders. Glen D. Lawrence addresses in detail the capacity for polyunsaturated fatty acids to influence asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, inflammation, cancer, and immunity. Lawrence makes clear that our understanding of the biochemical and physiological effects of dietary fats has advanced tremendously as a result of careful research, but he also stresses that this knowledge has not easily translated into sound dietary recommendations.

Essential fatty acids are fatty acids that humans must ingest because the body requires them for good health, but it cannot synthesize itself. Therefore, such nutrients need to be supplied from either diet or dietary supplements. Recent studies raised scientific and medical interest in the beneficial effects of these fatty acids on brain and retina function, as well as reducing ill health effects, such as cardio-metabolic diseases. Thus, there is an interest in developing requirements and dietary recommendations. Essential Fatty Acids: Sources, Processing Effects, and Health Benefits provides a systematic introduction and comprehensive information about the essentiality of diets rich in omega fatty acids for successful human growth, development and disease prevention. This book presents detailed knowledge about essential fatty acids, their different food sources, biochemistry, and metabolism. It provides a comprehensive assessment of current knowledge about the effects of various processing and storage conditions on essential fatty acids, their bioavailability and supplementation in foods and diet. Chapters highlight the contribution of essential fatty acids in prevention and improvement of various conditions such as heart problems, arthritis, cancer, brain and bone health, especially in developing fetuses and children. Key Features: Presents comprehensive information on nutritional and health aspects of fats and essential fatty acids Contains a wealth of information on the structure, sources, biochemistry and nutritional properties of essential fatty acids Provides the latest information about the changes in essential fatty acids during various processing and storage conditions Highlights the bioavailability, supplementation and dietary requirements of these fatty acids By bringing together diverse areas of biochemistry, storage, as well as processing behavior and dietary requirements, this book lays the groundwork for striking expansion in our understanding of these important biochemicals and their role in health and disease prevention. Essential Fatty Acids will be of interest to a large and varied audience of researchers in academia, industry, nutrition, dietetics, food science, agriculture, and regulators.

Diet and Health examines the many complex issues concerning diet and its role in increasing or decreasing the risk of chronic disease. It proposes dietary recommendations for reducing the risk of the major diseases and causes of death today: atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (including heart attack and stroke), cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, and dental caries.

Research has clearly established a link between omega fatty acids and general health, particularly cardiovascular health. Omega Fatty Acids in Brain and Neurological Health, Second Edition, illustrates the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in longevity, cognitive impairment and structure and function of the brain's neurons and also the adverse effects of omega-6 fatty acids on neurological function. This book encompasses some of the most recent research on the links between omega fatty acids and the developing brain, aging, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, including the role of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on hippocampal neurogenesis, substantia nigra modulation, migraine headaches, the developing brain in animals, sleep and neurodegenerative diseases. This completely updated second edition focuses on the counterbalancing dietary and tissue omega-6 fatty acids as well as it studies the effects in pregnancy and early infancy, animal model studies and autoimmune neurological diseases. - Provides a comprehensive introduction to omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in neurological health and directions for future research - Features novel focus on the adverse effects of omega-6 fatty acids on neurological function and the counterbalancing of dietary and tissue omega-6 - Illustrates the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in longevity and cognitive impairment - Features new chapters on early effects in pregnancy and early infancy, animal model studies and autoimmune neurological diseases - Discusses links between omega fatty acids and the developing brain, aging, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, including the role of omega-3 fatty acid supplements

Since the publication of the bestselling second edition, mounting research into fatty acids reveals new and more defined links between the consumption of dietary fats and their biological health effects. Whether consuming omega-3 to prevent heart disease or avoiding trans fats to preserve heart health, it is more and more clear that not only the quantity but the type of fatty acid plays an important role in the etiology of the most common degenerative diseases. Keeping abreast of the mechanisms by which fatty acids exert their biological effects is crucial to unraveling the pathogenesis of a number of debilitating chronic disorders and can contribute to the development of effective preventive measures. Thoroughly revised to reflect the most resent research findings, Fatty Acids in Foods and their Health Implications, Third Edition retains the highly detailed, authoritative quality of the previous editions to present the current knowledge of fatty acids in food and food products and reveal diverse health implications. This edition includes eight entirely new chapters covering fatty acids in fermented foods, the effects of heating and frying on oils, the significance of dietary ?-linolenate in biological systems and inflammation, biological effects of conjugated linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, and the role of fatty acids in food intake and energy homeostasis, as well as cognition, behavior, brain development, and mood disease. Several chapters underwent complete rewrites in light of new research on fatty acids in meat, meat products, and milk fat; fatty acid metabolism; eicosanoids; fatty acids and aging; and fatty acids and visual dysfunction. The most complete resource available on fatty acids and their biological effects, Fatty Acids in Foods and their Health Implications, Third Edition provides state-of-the-science information from all corners of nutritional and biomedical research.

Lipids are functionally versatile molecules. They have evolved from relatively simple hydrocarbons that serve as depot storages of metabolites and barriers to the permeation of solutes into complex compounds that perform a variety of signalling functions in higher organisms. This volume is devoted to the polar lipids and their constituents. We have omitted the neutral lipids like fats and oils because their function is generally to act as deposits of metabolizable substrates. The sterols are also outside the scope of the present volume and the reader is referred to volume 28 of this series which is the subject of cholesterol. The polar lipids are comprised of fatty acids attached to either glycerol or sphingosine. The fatty acids themselves constitute an important reservoir of substrates for conversion into families of signalling and modulating molecules including the eicosanoids amongst which are the prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leucotrienes. The way fatty acid metabolism is regulated in the liver and how fatty acids are desaturated are subjects considered in the first part of this volume. This section also deals with the modulation of protein function and inflammation by unsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives. New insights into the role of fatty acid synthesis and eicosenoid function in tumour progression and metastasis are presented.

Studies on the evolutionary aspects of diet and molecular studies included in this volume indicate that human beings evolved on a diet that was balanced in the essential fatty acids (EFA). In fact, the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 EFA was 1/1 whereas present day diets in both developed and developing countries have a much higher ratio, between 5/1 and 50/1. Additional studies show that a high ratio of omega-6/omega-3 EFA is detrimental to health and may lead to the development of chronic diseases. Improving the dietary ratio by decreasing the omega-6 fatty acids and increasing the omega-3 fatty acids is essential for brain function and for the management of cardiovascular disease, arthritis and cancer. A ratio of 4/1 or less leads to lower dosage and to the reduction of adverse effects of drugs. This volume should be of interest to a large and varied audience of researchers in academia, industry, and government; cardiologists, geneticists, immunologists, neuroscientists, and cancer specialists; as well as nutritionists, dietitians, food scientists, agriculturists, economists and regulators.

This book highlights the important role free fatty acids (FFA) play as potential drug targets. While FFA have long been considered byproducts of cell metabolism, they are now recognized as ligands that regulate cell and tissue function via G-protein-coupled receptors. At least three receptors have been identified for which FFA appear to be the endogenous ligands.

This volume argues for the importance of essential nutrients in our diet. Over the last two decades there has been an explosion of research on the relationship of Omega-3 fatty acids and the importance of antioxidants to human health. Expert authors discuss the importance of a diet rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids for successful human growth and development and for the prevention of disease. Chapters highlight their contribution to the prevention and amelioration of a wide range of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, obesity, mental health and bone health. An indispensable text designed for nutritionists, dietitians, clinicians and health related professionals, Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Keys to Nutritional Health presents a comprehensive assessment of the current knowledge about the nutritional effects of Omega-3 fatty acids and their delivery in foods.