Importance of the Omega-6/Omega-3 Balance In Health and Disease: Evolutionary Aspects of Diet

摘要

Over the past 20 years, many studies and clinical investigations have been carried out on the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in general and on omega-3 fatty acids in particular. Today we know that omega-3 fatty acids are essential for normal growth and development and may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and cancer [1-10]. Research has been carried out inanimal models, tissue cultures, and human beings. The original observational studies have given way to controlled clinical trials. Great progress has taken place in our knowledge of the physiologic and molecular mechanisms of the omega-6/omega-3 ratio in health and disease [11,12].