The Relationship between N6 Fatty Acids and Health Outcomes - Essay Example

"The Relationship between N6 Fatty Acids and Health Outcomes" is a delightful example of a paper on food and nutrition.
There is an ongoing debate about the relationship between fatty acids (FA), especially n6 fatty acids, and health outcomes. This concept noticeably changes the understanding of the role of high levels of n-6 fatty acids and inflammation. Thus, we are still unsure if n-6 fatty acids harmful, harmless, or helpful. Many studies stated that high consumption of n-6 (LA) enhances to increase of AA content in the tissue. Due to that n-6 (AA) produces pro-inflammatory that works as a powerful activator of platelet aggregation and a potent and, therefore, these changes increase CVD risk. However, recent studies report a dual effect of n-6 as both anti- and pro-inflammatory in atherosclerosis and CVD. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study reported that high intake of both n-6 and n-3 reduce the prevalence of CVD because both PUFAs have synergetic effects as anti- and pro-inflammatory effects.

In 1965, Keys and his colleagues reported that high intake of SFA and low intake of total PUFA including n-3 and n-6 correlated to increase all the causes of death from coronary heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Thus, the western diet become dominated by n-6 at the expense of n-3. By 1985, fish consumption had dropped and vegetable oil consumption increased considerably. Even then, scientists continued to debate over whether Americans and others on a typical Western diet are eating too much of n-6 because many epidemiological studies reported the negative effect of n-6 consumption, which causes increased several disease risks. In 2009, American Heart Association (AHA) reported that a high intake of n-6 is safe and may be beneficial when it replaces with SFA. AHA concludes that reducing n-6 intake may decrease CHD risk than increase it.

Few types of research challenge the dogma of omega- 6 as an anti-inflammatory, because omega-6 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, meanwhile, others have pro-inflammatory properties.

Overall, until now omega-6 consumption is still a controversial issue because much scientific evidence suggests that n-6 fatty acids work as a pro-inflammatory that induces the production of inflammatory biomarkers via several mechanisms. Concomitantly, in the scientific literature, there are few studies, which suggest the benefits arising from the consumption of omega 6 fatty acids.

The western diet is rich in omega-6 and our consumption of vegetable oils (omega-6) has been increased dramatically over the last decades. Apparently, inflammatory gene expression is the main mechanism of eicosanoid action. Thus, aggregate data from animal experiments, vitro studies, human observational, and experimental feeding studies indicate that a high n-6: n-3 ratio leads to the increase of risk of many diseases including IBD, NAFLD, and CVD. Further prospective studies examining other types of omega-6 fatty acids, inflammation, and another disease all at the same time would strengthen the present finding, particularly from GLA. Finally, the omega-6 recommendations should be reconsidered and further research should be conducted for a deeper understanding, the impact of the relationship between omega-6 fatty acids and inflammation to improve the quality of life and nutrition.