General Veterinary Biochemistry

DEFICIENCY DISORDERS OF FATTY ACIDS

• Different types of polyunsaturated fatty acids have different effects on lipid metabolism and on other risk factors for heart diseases.
• Recent clinical trials have shown that ω-6 type decreases serum cholesterol level with a modest reduction in the level of TG.
• ω-3 types cause modest decrease in serum cholesterol and significantly lower TG levels.
• The biochemical mechanisms for these effects are not known.
• ω-3 types of fatty acids decrease the risk of heart disease by decreasing platelet aggregation.