Àcids grassos omega-3: els àcids grassos perduts i ara retrobats?

Abstract

The omega-3 fatty acids belong to the group of polyunsaturated fatty acids and cannot be synthesized by our organismwhich determines its character of being essentials for our health,with considerable implications in the prevention of a variety of diseases. Eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids have several effects on different physiological processes that impinge on the development of the atherosclerotic process, amajor factor for ischemic heart disease: they reduce the concentration of plasma triglycerides (both in fasting as well as in the post-prandial period), lessen platelet aggregation and reduce the risk of thrombosis, restrain the intensity of the processes implicated in the inflammatory reactions (involved in the development of the atherosclerotic plaques), diminish the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death, etc. Numerous experimental investigations and several epidemiological studies suggest that the omega-3 fatty acidsmay have beneficial effects on the cancerous diseases : they reduce themetastasizing capacity and tumor growth due to their ability to inhibit the degree ofmitosis of the tumor cells, accelerate their death by apoptosis, induce cellular differentiation, inhibit angiogenesis, modify the metabolismof estrogens, etc. The fatty acids of the omega-3 type play a fundamental role in the normal development and function of the nervous system. Epidemiological studies have shown the existence of a positive association between eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic rich fish intake (mackerel, sardine, salmon, tuna, etc.) during pregnancy and an optimal fetus growth and development and an improvement in several aspects of sensory perception and psycofunctional capacity: better visual acuity andmore interest for novel things (in the newborn), better scores onmental
development tests (in infants and adolescents) (verbal intelligence and personal behavior) and, at the same time, bettermotor and bone development. These types of fatty acids play also a very important role onmental health and have a significant influence on different processes related to severalmental diseases: depression (seasonal, post-partum), bipolar disorder (depression,mania), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, etc. The omega-3 fatty acids have also a marked influence on the function of the immune systemand determine that the reactivity and degree of aggressiveness of the inflammatory reaction, induce by that system, being more moderate and with less clinical and functional impairment. The clinical symptoms associated to a series of diseases, inwhich the immune systemplays an important role (rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, etc.) improve significantly when the patients ingest adequate quantities, relatively high, of omega-3 fatty acids.

KEYWORDS: Fatty acids, platelet agregation, thrombosis.