Siriwardhana Nalin, Kalupahana Nishan S, Moustaid-Moussa Naima
Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Adv Food Nutr Res. 2012;65:211-22. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-416003-3.00013-5.
Marine-based fish and fish oil are the most popular and well-known sources of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), namely, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These n-3 PUFAs are known to have variety of health benefits against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) including well-established hypotriglyceridemic and anti-inflammatory effects. Also, various studies indicate promising antihypertensive, anticancer, antioxidant, antidepression, antiaging, and antiarthritis effects. Moreover, recent studies also indicate anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects of these fatty acids in metabolic disorders. Classically, n-3 PUFAs mediate some of these effects by antagonizing n-6 PUFA (arachidonic acid)-induced proinflammatory prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) formation. Another well-known mechanism by which n-3 PUFAs impart their anti-inflammatory effects is via reduction of nuclear factor-κB activation. This transcription factor is a potent inducer of proinflammatory cytokine production, including interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, both of which are decreased by EPA and DHA. Other evidence also demonstrates that n-3 PUFAs repress lipogenesis and increase resolvins and protectin generation, ultimately leading to reduced inflammation. Finally, beneficial effects of EPA and DHA in insulin resistance include their ability to increase secretion of adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory adipokine. In summary, n-3 PUFAs have multiple health benefits mediated at least in part by their anti-inflammatory actions; thus their consumption, especially from dietary sources, should be encouraged.
海鱼及鱼油是n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）最常见且广为人知的来源，即二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）。已知这些n-3多不饱和脂肪酸对心血管疾病（CVD）具有多种健康益处，包括已明确的降甘油三酯和抗炎作用。此外，多项研究表明它们还有降压、抗癌、抗氧化、抗抑郁、抗衰老和抗关节炎等潜在作用。而且，近期研究还表明这些脂肪酸在代谢紊乱中具有抗炎和胰岛素增敏作用。传统上，n-3多不饱和脂肪酸通过拮抗n-6多不饱和脂肪酸（花生四烯酸）诱导的促炎前列腺素E₂（PGE₂）形成来介导其中一些作用。n-3多不饱和脂肪酸发挥抗炎作用的另一个众所周知的机制是通过减少核因子-κB的激活。这种转录因子是促炎细胞因子产生的强效诱导剂，包括白细胞介素6和肿瘤坏死因子-α，而EPA和DHA均可使其减少。其他证据还表明，n-3多不饱和脂肪酸可抑制脂肪生成，增加消退素和保护素的生成，最终减轻炎症。最后，EPA和DHA对胰岛素抵抗的有益作用包括它们能够增加脂联素（一种抗炎脂肪因子）的分泌。总之，n-3多不饱和脂肪酸具有多种健康益处，至少部分是由其抗炎作用介导的；因此，应鼓励食用n-3多不饱和脂肪酸，尤其是从饮食来源获取。
