Nutrients | |
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): An Ancient Nutrient for the Modern Human Brain | |
关键词: docosahexaenoic acid; DHA; omega-3 fatty acids; n-3 fatty acids; brain evolution; erythrocyte phospholipids; algal oil; fish oil; nutritional supplementation; | |
DOI : 10.3390/nu3050529 | |
来源: mdpi | |
【 摘 要 】
Modern humans have evolved with a staple source of preformed docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the diet. An important turning point in human evolution was the discovery of high-quality, easily digested nutrients from coastal seafood and inland freshwater sources. Multi-generational exploitation of seafood by shore-based dwellers coincided with the rapid expansion of grey matter in the cerebral cortex, which characterizes the modern human brain. The DHA molecule has unique structural properties that appear to provide optimal conditions for a wide range of cell membrane functions. This has particular implications for grey matter, which is membrane-rich tissue. An important metabolic role for DHA has recently been identified as the precursor for resolvins and protectins. The rudimentary source of DHA is marine algae; therefore it is found concentrated in fish and marine oils. Unlike the photosynthetic cells in algae and higher plants, mammalian cells lack the specific enzymes required for the
【 授权许可】
CC BY
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
【 预 览 】
Files | Size | Format | View |
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RO202003190049831ZK.pdf | 334KB | download |