omega-3 fatty acid
Noun 1. a polyunsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has its first double valence bond three carbons from the beginning (synonym) omega-3 (hypernym) polyunsaturated fatty acid (hyponym) alpha-linolenic acid | ||||
Search Dictionary:
Omega-3 fatty acid definition was found in categories: Medicine(1) Encyclopedia(1)
Omega-3 fatty acid Definition from Medicine Dictionaries & Glossaries
| NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms |
omega-3 fatty acid
A type of fat obtained in the diet and involved in immunity.
A type of fat obtained in the diet and involved in immunity.
Omega-3 fatty acid Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia |
Omega-3 fatty acid
Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids which have in common a carbon-carbon double bond in the ω-3 position. (See Nomenclature for terms and discussion of ω (omega) nomenclature.)
Important nutritional essential omega-3 fatty acids are: α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). For a more complete list see List of omega-3 fatty acids. The human body cannot synthesize omega-3 fatty acids de novo, but it can form 20- and 22-carbon unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids from the eighteen-carbon omega-3 fatty acid, α-linolenic acid. These conversions occur competitively with omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential closely related chemical analogues that are derived from linoleic acid. Both the omega-3 α-linolenic acid and omega-6 linoleic acid are essential nutrients which must be obtained from food. Synthesis of the longer omega-3 fatty acids from linolenic acid within the body is competitively slowed by the omega-6 analogues. Thus accumulation of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in tissues is more effective when they are obtained directly from food or when competing amounts of omega-6 analogs do not greatly exceed the amounts of omega-3.
| See more at Wikipedia.org... |