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Scientific Issues
The fatty acid profile EFA-SRÔ

FATTY ACIDS MEASURED IN EFA-SRÔ

Major Fatty Acids and Their Pathways

From Diet ------ > Saturated, monounsaturated fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates

-------------------> 16:0 (stearic), 18:0 (palmitic)

-------------------> 16:1w7, 16:1w9, 18:1w7, 18:1w9

Diet provides SFAs, MUFAs. Excess calories from carbohydrates and protein are converted to SFAs. Depending on body metabolism, body needs, and intake of PUFAs, the body converts some SFAs to MUFAs.

PUFAs of w3 or w6 remain w3 or w6. SFAs and MUFAs cannot be converted to w3 or w6 PUFAs. Conversion among fatty acids depend on body needs. When there is not enough PUFAs, body makes more MUFAs from SFAs.

Most linolenic acid (ALA) is converted to its derivatives EPA, DHA.

Most linoleic acid (LA) is not converted to its derivatives GLA, ARA.

Relative pathway activity: w3 > w6 > w9 > w7

NONESSENTIAL Fatty acids: w7, w9 pathway.

ESSENTIAL Fatty acids: w6, w3 pathways.

Parents or precursors PFAs:

Linolenic 18:3w3

Linoleic 18:2w6

Oleic 18:1w9

palmitoleic 16:1w7

Derivatives or children or daughters = DFA

GLA 18:3w6

20:3w6 (DGLA)

20:5w3 (EPA), 20:4w6 (arachidonic), 20:3w9 (Mead) Elongase enzyme

22:5w3*, 22:4w6 (adrenic)

22:6w3 (DHA), 22:5w6

Other pathways

20:2w6, 20:1w9, 18:1w7

24:1w9

Fatty acids commonly measured by EFA-SR

Saturated chain Fatty Acids: 14:0, 16:0, 18:0, 20:0, 22:0, 24:0. The 17:0 is used as internal standard.

EFAs and EFA derivatives.

Omega-6 18:2w6; 18:3w6; 20:2w6; 20:3w6; 20:4w6; 22:4w6; 22:5w6.

Omega-3 18:3w3; 20:4w3; 20:5w3; 22:5w3; 22:6w3.

Monunsaturated w7 and w9: 16:1w7, 18:1w7, 18:1w9, 20:1w9, 20:3w9, 24:1w9.

Omega-9: 18:1w9; 20:1w9; 20:3w9; 24:1w9.

Omega-7: 16:1w7; 18:1w7.

Indicators of EFAD: 20:3w9, 16:1w7 (included above).

Odd chain Fatty Acids and miscellaneous.

13:0 (optional); 14:1w5, 15:0, other fatty acids associated with food processing and hydrogenation.

Trans Fatty Acids: Trans group consisting of 18:1w9T, 18:1w7T and other 18:1 isomers; 16:1w7T, 18:2w6TT (or an 18:2w6CT derived from foods), 18:2w6CT. Complete separation of all trans and isomers is not practical at present. 16:1w7T is the one most easily measured.

Notes: All cis unless specified otherwise; T = trans

Some fatty acids are very rare or superimposed with other fatty acids; not measured. These fatty acids are either in negligible and difficult to detect amounts in human plasma, or their identification is not practical.

Fish oil fatty acids are EPA, DHA (highly increased after diets rich in fish oils).

From major fatty acids we interpret EFA status, imbalances of fatty acids. Interpretation is as much an art (experience, skills) as a science (precise formula).

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modified 1/15/00