Essential Fatty Acids & Natural Health

To a chemist, fatty acids are just organic acids but to a nutritionist, fatty acids are nutrients involved in untold numbers of daily bodily functions. Fortunately, the human body can synthesize, or build, nearly all the fatty acids it needs. But two, linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic, can't be synthesized in the body and must be obtained through food or supplements. Scientists call these fatty acids, "essential".

Why Are Essential Fatty Acids Important?

Essential fatty acids play a number of important roles in the body. Essential fatty acids are vital to the structural integrity of cell membrane and influence the membrane's flexibility, permeability and fluidity. Without essential fatty acids cells simply wouldn't function.

Another function of essential fatty acids involves vision. In addition to keeping eyesight sharp, essential fatty acids are also vital during the time when the eyes' retinas are forming. If essential fatty acids are lacking during this important developmental window, permanent vision lost can result.

Essential fatty acids also appear to be closely linked to a reduced risk of certain developmental and learning disorders. Exactly how essential fatty acids influence brain development isn't fully understood but studies on animals clearly link essential fatty acid deficiencies to learning disabilities.

Essential Fatty Acids & Heart Health

When it comes to heart health, the research on essential fatty acids is very promising. Studies have increasingly linked essential fatty acids, especially the omega-3 fatty acids, to a decreased risk of heart disease. While scientists don't have all the answers just yet, it appears that essential fatty actions help prevent arrhythmias and clots, bring down cholesterol and blood pressure, slow plaque deposits and, perhaps most important, reduce inflammation.

Reducing Inflammation With Essential Fatty Acids

One of the most recent (and most exciting) discoveries about essential fatty acids involves inflammation. A growing body of evidence links the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids to better control of inflammation-related conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids & Mental Health

While essential fatty acid supplements won't replace traditional schizophrenia medications, there is emerging evidence that adding them to an existing medical regimen may help some schizophrenia sufferers better deal with their condition. This research is in its infancy and the studies done so far have been quite small, so, obviously, more research is needed.

The evidence supporting the use of essential fatty acids by people dealing with depression is a bit better. Exactly how (or if) essential fatty acids help depressed people isn't fully understood but a few studies have suggested that essential fatty acids may help reduce both the severity and duration of depression in some people.

Are Essential Fatty Acid Supplements Right For You?

Before you add essential fatty acid supplements to your diet, remember that much of the research on these nutrients is relatively new and sometimes quite controversial. It's also important to realize that essential fatty acid supplements won't replace the prescription medications you may already be taking and, in some cases, will actually change the way your body uses them.

If you have any questions about essential fatty acids or would like more information about adding them to your diet, talk to your primary health care provider. He or she will tell you if essential fatty acid supplements are right for you.

REFERENCES:

Higdon, J. (2005). Essential Fatty Acids. Retrieved May 16, 2007, from http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/.

Joy CB, Mumby-Croft R, Joy LA. (2003). Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for schizophrenia.

Stoll AL, Severus WE, Freeman MP, et al. (1999). Omega 3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Kris-Etherton PM, Harris WS, Appel LJ. (2002). Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease.