Evolutionary Aspects of Diet: The Omega-6/Omega-3 Ratio and the Brain
Abstract
Several sources of information suggest that human beings evolved on a diet that had a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (FA) of about 1/1; whereas today, Western diets have a ratio of 10/1 to 20-25/1, indicating that Western diets are deficient in omega-3 FA compared with the diet on which humans evolved and their genetic patterns were established. Omega-6 and omega-3 FA are not interconvertible in the human body and are important components of practically all cell membranes. Studies with nonhuman primates and human newborns indicate that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is essential for the normal functional development of the brain and retina, particularly in premature infants. DHA accounts for 40% of the membrane phospholipid FA in the brain. Both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA have an effect on membrane receptor function and even neurotransmitter generation and metabolism. There is growing evidence that EPA and DHA could play a role in hostility and violence in addition to the beneficial effects in substance abuse disorders and alcoholism. The balance of omega-6 and omega-3 FA is important for homeostasis and normal development throughout the life cycle.
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Whether FADS1 creates pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory precursor FAs depends on the FA being modified.
“Whether FADS1 creates pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory precursor FAs, is dependent upon the FA being modified [47].”
From Lipoprotein Lipase Regulates Microglial Lipid Droplet Accumulation (2021) · cites this paper as [47]
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- Authors
- Simopoulos, A. P.
- Corresponding author
- Simopoulos, Artemis P.
- Venue
- Molecular Neurobiology
- Published
- 2011-01-29
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 203-215
- ISSN
- 0893-7648 (ISSN-L)
- 1559-1182
- OpenAlex
- W1997579399
- Cited by
- 627
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 71 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 46 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 45 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 31.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Molecular Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Keywords
- n-6/n-3 ratio, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, human evolution, Western diet, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, brain development, retinal development, membrane phospholipids, non-human primates, preterm infants, neurotransmitter metabolism, violence, substance abuse, alcoholism
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Animals, Brain, Cognition, Diet, Dietary Fats, Biological Evolution, Humans, Inflammation, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Substance-Related Disorders, Fatty Acids, Omega-6, Atherosclerosis
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