Essential fatty acids (EFA) describe the parents of the two series: linoleic acid (LA) of the Omega-6 series, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) of the Omega-3 family.

As these cannot be produced by the body and must be provided from the diet, supplementation may be beneficial. ALA can be found in dark, green leafy vegetables, certain nuts and seeds. LA can be found in nuts, sesame and sunflower seeds, vegetable oils and processed foods.

The Essentials of Life
Research has shown that the human body's health is heavily reliant on certain nutrients and micronutrients that must come from the environment. They include:
• Minerals
• Vitamins
• 8 essential amino acids (10 for kids)
• Essential fatty acids
• Energy sources (macronutrients provided as carbohydrate, fat or protein)
• Water

Healthy bodies are built from these essential building blocks, which include EFAs. In order to construct, defend and rebuild health, our nutritional intake must contain an optimum amount of these nutrients. Equazen’s products focus on the two types of essential fatty acids. Your body can't manufacture these, and so they must be derived from the diet. But because many different factors can interfere with this process, supplementation is a logical choice.

The body converts the parent fatty acids into longer, more unsaturated varieties. The most important ones concerning brain and eye function are: EPA, DHA, and GLA. For this conversion process the body relies on delta-6-desaturase enzyme. However, various factors can interfere and inhibit the role of this enzyme, which over time ultimately can lead to lower levels of these key essential fatty acids.

These factors include high alcohol intake, caffeine, smoking, ageing, excess cholesterol, excess saturated fats, high sugar consumption and a deficiency in vitamins and minerals such as zinc, chromium and pyridoxine26.

The Role of Essential Fatty Acids in Cellular Health
Between your first and your last breath, each second of every day, your cells are constantly regenerating. New ones are endlessly replacing the billions of cells that make up your skin, organs, hair and bones. With the exception of nervous tissue, every cell in your body is being constantly renewed.

Few of the cells you were born with now remain. Each cell is like a tiny factory, taking in raw materials and sending out various end products. Long chain fatty acids are one of the necessary inputs of this process. The body will use these compounds in normal cells in all parts of the body, but especially in the skin, brain, eyes and nerves. It is a key process of life, and one in which fatty acids have a crucial role:

•	By holding proteins in the cell membrane, facilitating the movement of nutrients in and out of the cell
•	By keeping membranes fluid and flexible. A reduction of EFA may cause membranes to become 'stiff' and in some cases, the cells to malfunction
•	By facilitating electrical channels on the membranes that allow bioelectric messages to pass from cell to cell
•	By forming the structural part of various cell components, namely the endoplasmic
•	reticulum, golgi apparatus, vesicles, mitochondria, nucleolus and nucleus
•	By influencing which genes in your DNA are expressed

Having an adequate supply of EFAs in your diet is the first step to ensuring this process is not disrupted, but supplementation is a convenient way of helping to make sure you maintain good health, even at the cellular level.

The specific benefits of fatty acids
Area EFA Benefit:
Hair and skin – EFAs can give skin and hair cells greater fluidity and flexibility. The skin's cutaneous permeability barrier is maintained, helping to prevent trans-dermal water loss that results in dry skin.

Circulatory system – EFAs are important in oxygen transfer, red blood cell production, and control of nutrient passage through cell membranes. EFA’s may help maintain a healthy heart .

Mind and Nervous system – About 30% of the dry weight of the brain and eyes are comprised of EFAs. A supply is crucial for retinal and brain cell function.

Endocrine system, Digestive System and Musculoskeletal system – There is also some evidence to suggest that EFAs may also have a role to play in helping maintain a healthy hormonal balance, gastrointestinal tract and musculoskeletal system.

Reproductive system – Normal Western diet is low in PUFAs and, therefore, all children are at risk of insufficient supply of PUFAs. Mainly DHA and AA, PUFAs are rapidly incorporated in the nervous tissue of retina and brain during early development. In order to assure an optimal provision of PUFAs throughout child development, supplementation with DHA and AA, should start in a prenatal stage. Therefore, pregnant women should be supplemented in late pregnancy, so that optimal amounts of PUFAs are provided to the foetus through the umbilical blood, Continuing supplementation of post-weaning children has been shown to support and accelerate the brain development of children and increase their mental capacity.

Are fatty acids really essential?
Yes: fatty acids are essential to life. At the elementary level, essential fatty acids are involved in energy production, circulatory health and effective metabolism. They are precursors to prostaglandins, messenger molecules that control and regulate such important functions as reproduction and fertility, inflammatory reactions, immunity and communication between cells. Fatty acids are particularly key in the active tissues of our body, such as the brain, sense organs and heart.

The points below show how fatty acids are involved in many of the key processes of life:
• Cells – As building blocks of cell membranes

• Energy – Helping energy production, through the process of oxidation

• Hormones – Prostaglandin production. These molecules can then interact with a variety of tissues and organs they encounter during circulation, including the brain, linking physical and mental impacts together as part of an integrated “systemic” effect

• Brain and eyes – May help visual and cognitive development and function in children

Equazen products are not drugs, but are extraordinary nutritional supplements. Giving the body an adequate supply of vital fatty acids may assist the body in maintaining optimum health. Research on essential fatty acid compounds has shown effects in numerous areas of health including:

• Cardiovascular disease – Apolipoproteins - proteins made by the liver involved in fat metabolism. Different inherited versions or “isoforms” of various apolipoproteins exert an effect on risk for cardiovascular disease. The actions of Omega-3 PUFAs on relative apolipoprotein levels has been frequently observed to have a possible protective effect against cardiovascular illness. This may help maintain a healthy heart

• Blood triglycerides – EPA and DHA can lower high triglyceride levels. This may be implicated in the lowering of cholesterol levels such as the potentially harmful Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and lower Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL).The precise mechanism for these changes is still the subject of ongoing research. High cholesterol tri-glycerides, LDL and VLDL are associated with cardiovascular disease. This may help maintain a healthy heart

• Blood pressure – EPA lowers elevated blood pressure, possibly through the effects of series 3 prostaglandins (PGs) the production of which diverts precursor molecules to decrease levels of the blood pressure-raising 2PGs made from omega-6 fatty acids. This may help maintain a healthy heart

• Hormone effects – From EPA our body makes PG3 prostaglandins and series-5 leukotrienes, producing these less inflammatory molecules preferentially over the more inflammatory, Omega-6 derived series-2 PGs and series-4 leukotrienes. This reduced inflammatory hormonal background may have an elicit health benefits that impact on the chances of suffereing from strokes, heart attacks and cardiovascular complications. The presence of EPA is thought to help prevent the body's cells from making too many PG2 clot-forming prostaglandins. This may help maintain a healthy heart

The reasons for supplementing are clearer when we appreciate how the body metabolises essential fatty acids. The metabolic pathways describe the process by which fatty acids from your diet, such as the 'parent' essential fatty acids LA and ALA, are gradually converted into other longer chain and more unsaturated fatty acids. Your body uses various enzymes to either lengthen (the elongases) or insert more double bonds (the desaturases) into the molecules.

Evidence not only suggests that the efficiency of these enzymatic pathways is often poor throughout a variety of healthy populations, but should the role of the enzymes be inhibited in some way, the pathway may become blocked. For example, it is thought that heavy consumption of processed cooking oils and margarines may interfere with the role of delta-6-desaturase, which can be involved in converting omega-6 LA into GLA, or omega-3 ALA into GLA.

Taking our supplements is a convenient way to ensure you help maintain good health

EFA Pathways
Equazen eye q and mumomega
Equazen’s solution is to provide high-grade sources of particular fatty acids in their most natural form helping to ensure that you maintain your good health. Equazen eye q provides a high level natural source of EPA, while cardiozen delivers EPA in an even greater concentration, and still in a natural triglyceride form. mumomega provides a high-grade concentration of DHA in a natural triglyceride form.

Sources and functions of EFAs relevant to human health:
Linoleic Acid (18:2n-6)
Food sources: soy oil, sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, corn oil, nuts.
Functions: The essential fatty acid which is a structural component of cell membranes and is the starting point from which the body makes several derivatives including GLA, DGLA, and AA, which are important for various functions throughout the body.

Gamma-Linoleic Acid (18:3n-6)
Food sources: Evening primrose, borage, blackcurrant and hemp seed oils
Functions: GLA is made from linoleic acid in the body and is an intermediate in the production of DGLA and AA.

Dihomogamma-Linolenic Acid (20:3n-6)
Food sources: DGLA is an extremely uncommon fatty acid, found only in trace amounts in animal products and in breast milk.
Functions: This GLA derivative performs a structural role in cell membranes and is the raw material for the beneficial 1-series eicosanoids, acting in synergy with Omega-3 fatty acids.

Alpha-Linolenic Acid (18:3n-3)
Food sources: Flax, flax seeds, walnuts, cold pressed canola oil, dark green leafy vegetables and wheatgerm.
Functions: ALA is converted into EPA and DHA, the two types of Omega-3 fatty acids most readily used by the body.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (20:5n-3)
Food sources: Oily fish such as sardines and pilchards.
Functions: A functional fatty acid which is incorporated into membranes and is a raw material for the production of 3-series eicosanoids. EPA (along with DHA) have been shown to impact on various aspects of brain function. EPA is thought to primarily contribute to the function of the established brain, whereas DHA is more important in the early build-up phase of brain development.

Docosahexanoic Acid (22:6n-3)
Food sources: Oily fish such as tuna and mackerel.
Functions: A structural fatty acid in all nerves and cells, especially important for foetal development during pregnancy and the first 2 years of life.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 PUFAs are rapidly incorporated into the nervous tissue of retina and brain during the brain’s growth spurt, which mainly takes place from the last trimester of pregnancy up to 2 years of age. Because of the low dietary intake of LCPUFA there is concern about a possible insufficient supply of LCPUFA during late prenatal, early postnatal stages and the first years of infancy that may affect vision and cognition.

Beyond the first establishment of the brain structures and interconnections of neurons in the central nervous system, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can influence brain function throughout life by modifications of neuronal membrane fluidity, membrane activity-bound enzymes, number and affinity of receptors, function of neuronal membrane ion channels, and production of neurotransmitters and brain peptides.

Blockages on the Pathways
Various factors are thought to interfere and slow down the role of delta-6-desaturase, the enzyme involved at the beginning of each pathway. Examples are thought to include:

• Excess saturated long chain fatty acids
• Trans-fatty acids from margarines, shortenings, and hydrogenated vegetable oils
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Smoking
• Stress, and hormones released during stress
• High sugar consumption, which prevents mobilisation of the Essential Fatty Acids from fat deposits in the body
• Ageing, which makes enzymes function with less efficiency
• Zinc and chromium deficiencies
As well as maintaining a healthy diet, supplementation with fish oils such as Equazen products may help maintain good health Healthy bodies are built from these essential building blocks, which include EFAs. In order to construct, defend and rebuild health, our nutritional intake must contain an optimum amount of these nutrients. Equazen’s products focus on the two types of essential fatty acids. Your body can't manufacture these, and so they must be derived from the diet. But because many different factors can interfere with this process, supplementation is a logical choice.

Look in any supermarket or food store, and you won’t find many positive messages about fat. ‘99% FAT-FREE!!’ a label may pronounce. However there is little public awareness that some fats can be called ‘good’; these essential fatty acids are vital to human health but can’t be manufactured by our cells and must be provided through our diet. A proper input of the good fats can benefit many life processes in your body. Accept that some fats are good and you’ll soon see the possible benefits of the Equazen range!

There are, of course, very sound reasons for the widespread concern about fat consumption. While there have been great advances in medicine and longevity, there has also been an increase in conditions and related diseases linked to poor diet e.g. obesity and heart disease, Type II diabetes, etc.

Degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes have been linked to premature death in over two thirds of people in affluent industrialised societies. Increasing evidence suggests that dietary fat intake may have a role to play in this increase.

So, what’s changed since 1900? Our physiological systems are the same, but our diets and lifestyle are not. There have been major changes this century in the kinds and amount of fat we consume.

Much of the fat consumed in the average Western diet is in the saturated and monosaturated form, while heavily processed fats, particularly hydrogenated varieties such as margarines and some mainstream cooking oils, are thought to be bad for our health. In addition, we are also ingesting greater amounts of toxins through air, water and soil pollution, and synthetic chemicals from drugs, pesticides and other sources.
Part of the formula for maintaining long term health is clear: Greatly reduce your consumption of ‘bad’ fats. You should also consider whether you have an adequate intake of ‘good’ fats. The Equazen range of supplements can help to ensure you get the balance right.

The need for essential fatty acids is also firmly rooted in our understanding of human evolution.

One theory gaining support within academia suggests a vital role of essential fatty acids in our evolution and holds that throughout our 3 million years of evolution, most primitive societies lived near a water source. The reasons for this are obvious: it gave them a water supply for survival, and allowed them to prey on animals that came to the water to drink. It also gave them a chance to collect fish, shellfish and crustaceans as a ready food source.

So the classic hunter-gatherer diet is understood to be high in protein, fibre and fatty acids: a theory supported by anthropologists who have lived with the few remaining hunter-gatherer societies.

Crucially, this diet gave our ancestors direct consumption of long chain fatty acids, such as AA, DHA and EPA, so they didn’t need to rely on many of the parent essential fatty acids -- n-6 LA and n-3 ALA -- into the longer chain HUFA.

The most thought-provoking work in this area is The Madness of Adam and Eve, by the late lipid pioneer, Dr David Horrobin. He looks at how the fats we consumed were vital for the development of our brain chemistry.

There were of course some major shifts to the human diet as we evolved. Domestication of agriculture, with the harvesting of grain for year-round storage, introduced carbohydrates as a more dominating food intake. And in the early 20th century, we saw the industrialisation of food.

Refrigeration and the introduction of powerful preservatives both being examples of changes that, whilst they have beneficial effects on shelf life, may possibly have detrimental effects on the nutritional content of foods. As fatty acids are by nature unstable, being prone to oxidation and rancidity, they were high on the hit list. And unfortunately for the general health of the so-called developed world, long-chain fats have been largely replaced by industrial fats -- lards, shortening and heavily processed oils.

If you want to know more about this, an illuminating work is the book Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill, by Udo Erasmus.

Today, we are almost in a position of having come full circle. Dietary research is showing the value of consuming food that is fresh, seasonal and organic. Science is now recognising the role of good fats in human health.

So below, we present a potted version of the evolution of nutraceuticals!
• 2000 BC – “Here, eat this root.”
• 1000 AD – “That root is heathen. Say this prayer.”
• 1850 AD – “That prayer is superstition. Drink this potion.”
• 1940 AD – “That potion is snake oil. Swallow this pill.”
• 1980 AD – “That pill is ineffective. Take this antibiotic.”
• 2005 AD – “That antibiotic no longer works. Here, eat this root.”

6 reasons to eat oily fish
• May help support visual and cognitive development of children
• May help maintain brain function and performance, for instance by supporting the systems around working memory
• May help maintain a healthy heart
• May help maintain the function of joints, reducing inflammation from wear and tear, keeping them supple and flexible

Because we can’t produce our own essential fatty acids, it is important that we find a good dietary source. Fatty acids can be found in various ratios and concentrations in many different food types, but there are reasons why Equazen has chosen particular sources.

There are two key 'families' of long chain fatty acids, the Omega-3 and Omega-6. A schematic of the metabolic pathways shows how these two components metabolise.

For Omega-3s, we use oil derived from the flesh of certain fish. The original fatty acid source is algae, which is concentrated in fish by progressing through the food chain. But naturally, there is variation between the species as to what essential fatty acids they yield.

So our requirement for marine fish oils high in Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is satisfied by the flesh oil from sardines and pilchards, which are harvested once they have spawned and their EPA levels are higher. For high DHA oil we use tuna. We only deal with suppliers who actually process the oil and who we know do not deal with agents or secondary parties.

For strict vegetarians, getting DHA and EPA can more difficult. There’s a good amount of Omega-3 ALA (Alpha Linolenic Acid) in green leafy vegetables, certain nuts and flax seed oil, but your body needs to then convert the ALA into longer chain fatty acids, and we know that there are various factors that can hinder this process.

For Omega-6s, we use Evening Primrose Oil as a source of GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid). The oil is derived from seeds of the evening primrose plant, which is grown in temperate regions around the world. Other plant extracts – such as blackcurrant or borage – also contain GLA. We use EPO as it is well researched.

Our range is made from high-grade Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils, and is backed by a five-point guarantee. When you take one of our products, it’s good to know that they are:

• Inspired by nature. Whether that’s in a natural source oil, such as in Equazen eye q, or in a natural triglyceride concentrate, such as cardiozen, Equazen eye q baby or mumomega

• Developed with special care and are of high purity, fully compliant with stringent EC and WHO rules on environmental pollutants

• Formulations based on research: Equazen continue to support research to advance understanding of the effectiveness of essential fatty acids

• A specific formulation for your area of interest, we offer formulations aimed at to maintain essential fatty acid levels considering brain health, cardiovascular health, eye health or ensuring a good fatty acid intake for mother and baby

The Equazen Brands are recommended by Health Care professionals who believe they provide a unique combination of high quality, naturally sourced, specific formulations for various populations.

Function Vs Structure
At first glance, these molecules look very similar. But they play very different roles, and choosing the right one is important.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid 20:5n-3 | Docosahexanoic Acid 22:6n-3

Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are rapidly incorporated into the nervous tissue of the of retina and brain during the brain’s growth spurt, which mainly takes place from the last trimester of pregnancy up to 2 years of age. Because of low dietary intake of LCPUFA, there is great concern about a possible insufficient supply of LCPUFA during late prenatal, early postnatal stages and the first years of infancy that may affect cognition.

Beyond the first establishment of the brain structures and interconnections of neurons in the central nervous system, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can influence brain function throughout life by modifications of neuronal membrane fluidity, and thus the activity of membrane-bound enzymes, number and affinity of receptors, function of neuronal membrane ion channels, and production of neurotransmitters and brain peptides.

Conclusion
DHA is important during pregnancy and early infancy for brain and eye development. EPA is crucial from early childhood and throughout life, possibly impacting on brain function.
Our Supplements for older children contain EPA well as DHA, because both mediate physiological responses that may positively influence brain function.

EPA is thought to play a prominent role in the function of the established brain, via the creation of chemical messengers that influence cellular communication.

Supplements for early child development require high DHA concentrations, because DHA is important for structural brain development. Normal western diets are low in PUFAs and, therefore, children may be at risk of insufficient supply of PUFAs.

PUFAs, mainly DHA and AA, are rapidly incorporated into the nervous tissue of the retina and brain during early brain development. Supplementation, starting from the prenatal stage, may help ensure optimal provision of PUFA’s throughout a child’s development. PUFAs provided can be provided to the foetus through the umbilical blood by supplementing women from pregnancy. Continuing supplementation during lactation provides enhanced amounts of PUFAs to the breastfed infant.

Arachidonic Acid (20:4n-6)
AA is found in meats, eggs and dairy products.

Alpha Linolenic Acid (18:3n-3)
ALA is found in flax, hemp seed, soy bean and dark green leaves. Flax seed is the richest source, containing over 50% of its fatty acid as LNA. This parent fatty acid is found at the beginning of the Omega-3 metabolic pathway, and is one of the essential fatty acids.

Borage Oil
Another source of GLA. Borage is the richest source of GLA (up to 24%), followed by blackcurrant seed oil (up to 18%). Evening primrose oil contains 9% GLA

Conversion Process
Various factors can affect the conversion of essential fatty acids into necessary end products. These include: Excess cholesterol, excess saturated long-chain fatty acids, processed vegetable oil including trans-fatty acids, heated oils, alcohol, ageing, Zinc deficiency, viral infections, diabetes, and high sugar consumption. One way to help fight these inhibitors is to take a supplement of essential fatty acids in a form that is bio available for the body.

Desaturase
A class of enzymes that desaturate along the metabolic pathway. The action involves removing hydrogen atoms from the carbon 'backbone' of the lengthy molecule, making it less saturated with hydrogen and revealing a new bond. Delta-6 desaturase is particularly important, as it is one of the enzymes involved in the early part of the conversion process.

Dihomogamma Linoleic Acid (20:3n-6)
DGLA is found in mother’s milk from which our bodies make series 1 prostaglandins, which may exert beneficial effects on health.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (22:6n-3)
DHA is found in the oils of cold water fish and marine animals. Salmon, trout mackerel, sardines and other cold water marine animals are rich sources of these fatty acids. Among land animals nervous tissue is particularly rich in EPA and DHA. DHA and AA, are rapidly incorporated in the nervous tissue of retina and brain during the brain’s growth spurt, which takes place predominantly from the last trimester of pregnancy up to 2 years of age.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (20:5n-3)
EPA is found in the oils of cold-water fish and marine animals. Salmon, trout mackerel, sardines and other cold-water marine animals are rich sources of these fatty acids. Specifically, this omega-3 fatty acid assists in brain cell signalling, the moment-moment signalling in the brain. It also helps down regulate plasma levels of the omega-6 fatty acid AA.

Elongase
A class of enzymes that elongate fatty acids by adding 2 carbon atoms.

Essential Fatty Acids
There are various definitions of 'essential' in the context of fatty acids, but the most useful is 'any fatty acid which can reverse all the symptoms of excluding all n-6 and n-3 Essential Fatty Acids from the diet'. Some purists call only LA and ALA ‘essential’ because these fatty acids start the Omega-3 and Omega-6 metabolic pathways, and as such have to be derived from the diet. The later metabolites are thus derived from constituents already within the body. But for practical purposes, especially when one considers poor conversion rates of fatty acids in these metabolic pathways within the body, all metabolite HUFAs may sometimes be referred to as being EFAs.

Evening Primrose Oil
Oil from the seeds of the evening primrose plant that contain LA and GLA. Our bodies may be unable to make GLA from LA at appreciable rates, and GLA is thought to work synergistically with Omega-3 fatty acids supporting its role in diverting the production of eicosanoids towards those of a less inflammatory nature. GLA is an intermediate in the production of prostaglandins with important hormone-like regulating functions exerting systemic effects.

Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are nutritional components contained in fats and oils found in the human diet. Fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated, and may also be essential or necessary. Fatty acids are components of every cell in the body and help determine the biological properties of these cells. They are also precursors of a group of highly reactive, molecules called prostaglandins, involved in regulating and integrating various cellular functions. Other uses of fatty acids within the body include the following: providing energy; maintaining body temperature; insulating the nerves; cushioning and protecting body tissues.

Gamma Linolenic Acid (18:3n-6)
GLA is the precursor of DGLA; the parent of the less inflammatory prostaglandin series, the PG1 family.

Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs)
HUFAs are derived from essential fatty acids, the metabolised results of your body converting the dietary parent fatty acids (LA and ALA). We use HUFAs as the general term for all the resulting members along the EFA metabolic pathways.

Lipids
This is the collective name for fats, oils, cholesterol and other fatty substances.

Linoleic Acid
LA is an 18-carbon fatty acid with 2 double bonds, positioned between carbon atoms 6 and 7, and 9 and 10. It is one of the essential fatty acids. The body cannot make it, requires it for life, and must therefore obtain it from food..The body makes several other important substances from LA, including GLA. LA-rich foods include the seeds and oils of safflower, sunflower, hemp and soybeans.

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs)
EFAs are called long-chain when they are made of at least 18 carbon molecules.

Omega 3 (n-3) and Omega 6 (n-6) series of EFAs
Scientists differentiate fatty acids by the characteristics of their molecules. The two principal essential fatty acid groups are the Omega-3 (n-3) series and the Omega-6 (n-6) series. The number indicates the position of the first double carbon bond when counting from the methyl end of the molecule. The Omega 3 ‘family’ includes Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) Eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic (DHA). The Omega 6 ‘family’ includes Linoleic Acid (LA), Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), Dihomogamma Linolenic Acid (DGLA), and Arachidonic Acid (AA). Visit EFA Pathways to read more.

Polyunsaturated Acid (PUFA)
PUFAs are all fatty acids with more than one double bond in their carbon chains. All essential fatty acids are PUFAs, but not all PUFAs are essential fatty acids.

Polyunsaturated Prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are extremely powerful components of cellular metabolism. They affect many key aspects of our health through their hormone-like effects, and the body makes them from essential fatty acids (EFAs). Prostaglandins were named from the gland from which they were first isolated in 1930 - the prostate gland of sheep. Later, they were also isolated from many other tissues and many other organisms including men, and PGs are now known to be present in all organs, tissues and cells. The study of prostaglandins is still an emerging field, and is one of the most fascinating areas of fats and oils (lipid) biochemistry. Functionally, PGs are, hormone-like chemicals that regulate cellular activities on a moment-to-moment basis. Chemically, PGs are products of enzyme-controlled oxidation of highly unsaturated fatty acids. Our body makes enzymes that oxidise fatty acids in specific ways to make molecules of specific PGs. Over the last decade, prostaglandins have been the focus of much attention and Nobel Prize-winning research. PGs regulate bodily functions in the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, brain, nerves and the immune system. In humans, there are three families of prostaglandins, each of which is derived from a different fatty acid.

Saturated vs Unsaturated and Polyunsaturated
All fatty acids have a 'backbone' of carbon atoms, joined together by covalent bonds. Saturated fatty acids are those with only single bonds between the carbon atoms, and all other available bonding positions taken up with hydrogen atoms - they are 'saturated' with hydrogen. Unsaturated fatty acids are those where some of the carbon atoms in the 'backbone 'are joined by double bonds, reducing the number of hydrogen atoms which can be attached by two for each double bond. Monounsaturated fatty acids have a single double bond, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have two or more. The more double bonds the molecule has, the greater the degree of unsaturation. By character, unsaturated fatty acids are more dynamic, their shape inducing “steric hindrance” preventing close association of these molecules. Saturated fatty acids pack more efficiently and more readily.

Starflower oil
Starflower oil is a commercial name for the seed oil from the borage plant (Borago officinalis L), another source of GLA.

Trans vs Cis forms of fatty acids
The double bonds in the molecule of an unsaturated fatty acid can be in two forms known as 'cis' and 'trans'. Cis double bonds introduce a 'kink' into the backbone. Trans double bonds on the other hand allow the molecule to lie in a straight line. Under normal conditions, the cis double bonds are stable, but at high temperatures, the bonds can flip over into the trans form. In the body, cis and trans forms are like a right and left handed glove; they look similar but each has a different fit. Like a broken key in a lock, the trans forms can impair metabolic processes and imoact negatively on the metabolism of the cis forms.