Omega−3 fatty acids, also called Omega-3 oils, ω−3 fatty acids or n−3 fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) characterized by the presence of a double bond three atoms away from the terminal methyl group in their chemical structure. They are widely distributed in nature, being important constituents of animal lipid metabolism, and they play an important role in the human diet and in human physiology. https://www.slideshare.net/DauRamChandravanshi1

1. OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
Presented by-
Dauram Chandravanshi
M. Pharm 3rd sem.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Sagar M.P.

2. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Types of omega-3 fatty acids
• Sources of omega-3 fatty acids
• Health benefits
• Deficiency symptoms
• References

3. INTRODUCTION
• Omega−3 fatty acids, also called Omega-3 oils, ω−3 fatty acids or n−3
fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) characterized by
the presence of a double bond three atoms away from the terminal
methyl group in their chemical structure. They are widely distributed
in nature, being important constituents of animal lipid metabolism,
and they play an important role in the human diet and in human
physiology.

4. TYPES OF OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
• The three types of omega−3 fatty acids involved in human physiology
are-
1. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
2. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
3. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

5. STRUCTURE OF OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

6. 1. ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID (ALA)
• Scientific abbreviation is 18:3n-3
• Humans are unable to synthesize the essential omega−3 fatty acid
ALA and can only obtain it through diet.
• Humans can synthesize other omega-3 fatty acids from ALA-
• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): 20:5n-3
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): 22:6n-3
• These two are usually referred to as marine-derived omega-3 fatty
acids because they are abundant in certain species of fish.

7. SOURCES
OF ALA
SOURCES g/100g SOURCES g/100g
Nuts and Seeds Legumes
Almonds 0.4 Beans (dry) 0.6
Flaxseed 22.8 Soybeans (dry) 1.6
Nuts (dried) 1.0 Peas (dry) 0.2
Peanuts 0.003 Lentils (dry) 0.1
Walnuts black 3.3 Cowpeas (dry) 0.3
Walnuts English 6.8 Chickpeas (dry) 0.3
Vegetables Grains
Beans (cooked) 0.3 Rice bran 0.2
Broccoli (raw) 0.1 Wheat bran 0.2
Cauliflower (raw) 0.1 Corn germ 0.3
Kale (raw) 0.2 Oats germ 1.4
Mustard 0.1 Fruits
Soybeans green 3.2 Avocados (raw) 0.1
Spinach (raw) 0.1 Raspberries (raw) 0.1
Strawberries (raw) 0.1

8. 2. EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID EPA
• Scientific abbreviation 20:5n-3 in physiological literature
• EPA also icosapentaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid.
• EPA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that acts as a precursor
for prostaglandin-3, thromboxane-3, and leukotriene-5 eicosanoids.
• EPA is both a precursor and the hydrolytic breakdown product of eicosapentaenoyl
ethanolamide (EPEA: C22H35NO2; 20:5,n-3).
• EPA, was shown to reduce heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death by 25%
relative to a placebo in those with statin-resistant hypertriglyceridemia.

9. 3. DOCOSAHAEXANOIC ACID (DHA)
• Scientific abbreviation 22:6n-3 in physiological literature
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural
component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina.
• It can be synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid or obtained directly from maternal
milk (breast milk), fish oil, or algae oil etc.
• Limited amounts of eicosapentaenoic and docosapentaenoic acids are possible
products of α-linolenic acid metabolism in young women and men.
• DHA in breast milk is important for the developing infant.
• Rates of DHA production in women are 15% higher than in men.

10. • DHA is the most abundant omega-3 fatty acid in the brain and retina.
• DHA comprises 40% of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the brain and
60% of the PUFAs in the retina. Fifty percent of a neuronal plasma membrane is
composed of DHA.
• DHA modulates the carrier-mediated transport of choline, glycine, and taurine, the
function of delayed rectifier potassium channels, and the response
of rhodopsin contained in the synaptic vesicles.
• Phosphatidylserine (PS) – which contains high DHA content – has roles in neuronal
signaling and neurotransmitter synthesis and DHA deficiency is associated with
cognitive decline.
• DHA levels are reduced in the brain tissue of severely depressed people.

11. SOURCES OF EPA & DHA
SOURCE SERVING EPA (g) DHA (g)
Herring, pacific, cooked 3 ounce 1.06 0.75
Salmon, chinook, cooked 3 ounce 0.86 0.62
Salmon, Atlantic, cooked 3 ounce 0.28 0.95
Oysters, pacific, cooked 3 ounce 0.75 0.43
Salmon, sockeye, cooked 3 ounce 0.45 0.60
Trout, rainbow, cooked 3 ounce 0.40 0.44
Tuna, white, packed in water 3 ounce 0.20 0.54
Crab, Dungeness, cooked 3 ounce 0.24 0.10
Shrimp, cooked 3 ounce 0.15 0.12
Cod, pacific, cooked 3 ounce 0.11 0.15
Fish oil, menhaden 1 g. 0.13 0.10
Fish oil, salmon 1 g. 0.13 0.18

14. HEALTH BENEFITS
DIABETES MELLITUS
• Hypertriglyceridemia (fasting serum TG of 200 mg/dl or higher) is a common lipid
abnormality in individuals with Type 2 diabetes,
• A number of randomized controlled trials have found that fish oil supplémentation
significantly lowers serum triglyceride levels in diabetic individuals.
• But, few control trials have examined the effect of fish oil supplémentation on
cardiovascular disease outcomes in diabetics.
• One prospective study, following 5103 women diagnosed with type 2 DM but free of
cardiovascular disease at the start of the study, found decreased risks.
• Those with higher fish intakes were associated with significantly decreased risks of
CHD over the 16 years that the study lasted for, suggesting that increasing EPA and
DHA levels may be beneficial to diabetic individuals, especially those with elevated
serum triglycerides

15.  IMMUNOGLOBULIN A NEPHROPATHY
• A kidney disorder that results from the deposition of the immune system protein IgA in
the glomeruli (filtering region) of the kidney.
• The cause is unclear, but progressive renal failure may eventually develop in 15-40% of
patients.
• Since glomerular IgA deposition results in increased production of inflammatory
mediators, it is thought that omega-3 fatty acid supplémentation could potentially
modulate the inflammatory response and preserve renal function.
• Several studies have been conducted showing no real significant benefits, and continuing
declines in renal functioning in some.
• However, the probability of a minor beneficial effect was high enough (75%) to provide
support for a large placebo-controlled trial of at least two years duration.
• Currently, researchers are conducting this study, comparing fish oil to alternate day
prednisone treatment and a placebo in children and young adults

16.  SCHIZOPHRENIA
• Schizophrenia is a chronic disabling brain disorder that affects approximately
1% of the population.
• A pilot study in 45 schizophrenic patients found that the addition of 2 g/day of
EPA to standard antipsychotic therapy was superior to the addition of a 2 g/day
to DHA or a placebo in decreasing residual symptoms.
• Although limited evidence does suggest that EPA supplémentation may be a
useful adjunct to antipsychotic therapy in schizophrenic patients, larger long-
term studies addressing clinically relevant outcomes are needed

17. • Asthma- Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can decrease the production of
inflammatory mediators in asthmatic patients.
• IBD- EPA and DHA supplementation in Ulcérative colitis patients, significant
improvements were reported.
• Omega 3 fatty acids may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of the
following health conditions.
• Alzheimer's disease
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Depression
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Eczema
• High blood pressure
• Migraine headaches
• Multiple sclerosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriasis

18. DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF OMEGA-3
FATTY ACIDS

19. REFERENCES
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Cardiovascular Death, Heart Attacks and Stroke Demonstrated in REDUCE-IT™".
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• Singh, Meharban (March 2005). "Essential fatty acids, DHA and the human
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