Cited by 1,390Fatty Acid Research and HealthEdible Oils Quality and AnalysisAquaculture Nutrition and Growth

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their health benefits

Open access
Shahidi, Fereidoon, Ambigaipalan, Priyatharini·2018·Annual Review of Food Science and Technology

Abstract

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) include α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3 ω-3), stearidonic acid (SDA; 18:4 ω-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 ω-3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; 22:5 ω-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 ω-3). In the past few decades, many epidemiological studies have been conducted on the myriad health benefits of omega-3 PUFAs. In this review, we summarized the structural features, properties, dietary sources, metabolism, and bioavailability of omega-3 PUFAs and their effects on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, depression, visual and neurological development, and maternal and child health. Even though many health benefits of omega-3 PUFAs have been reported in the literature, there are also some controversies about their efficacy and certain benefits to human health.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-food-111317-095850

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  • Both A. platensis and A. maxima are rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids including γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid.

    “Both species are rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including γ-linolenic acid (18:3 ω-6), arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4 ω-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 ω-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 ω-3), and their protein content can reach 600–710 g/kg of dry biomass (Shahidi and Ambigaipalan, 2018; Sinetova et al., 2024).”

    From Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design (2025) · cites this paper as Shahidi and Ambigaipalan, 2018

    The Dietary Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids section says that microalgae contain omega-3 PUFAs and that algae produce EPA and DHA. It does not identify A. platensis or A. maxima as rich sources of those fatty acids, nor does it establish that either species contains γ-linolenic or arachidonic acid. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The protein content of A. platensis and A. maxima can reach 600-710 g/kg of dry biomass.

    “Both species are rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including γ-linolenic acid (18:3 ω-6), arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4 ω-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 ω-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 ω-3), and their protein content can reach 600–710 g/kg of dry biomass (Shahidi and Ambigaipalan, 2018; Sinetova et al., 2024).”

    From Microalgae biotechnology and its role in sustainable and healthy food design (2025) · cites this paper as Shahidi and Ambigaipalan, 2018

    The Dietary Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids section discusses algal fatty acids but does not give protein content for A. platensis or A. maxima. Searches for the species, the 600–710 g/kg figure, and Spirulina/Arthrospira protein content found no passage addressing the claim; page numbers were unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.74)

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Ackman RG. 2005. Fish oils. In Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products, Vol. 3, ed. F Shahidi, pp. 279-317.
  2. Senanayake SPJN, Fichtali J. 2006. Marine oils: single cell oil as a sources of nutraceuticals and speciality lipids: processing technologies and application. In Nutraceutical and Speciality Lipids and their Co-Products, ed. F Shahidi, pp. 251-80. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press

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Authors
Shahidi, F., & Ambigaipalan, P.
Affiliations
Memorial University of Newfoundland (CA)
Corresponding author
Shahidi, Fereidoon
Venue
Annual Review of Food Science and Technology
Published
2018-03-25
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
345-381
ISSN
  • 1941-1421 (ISSN-L)
  • 1941-1413
OpenAlex
W2768855358
Cited by
1,390
References
225
Citations by year
2026: 152 · 2025: 230 · 2024: 230 · 2023: 224 · 2022: 209 · 2021: 176 · 2020: 99 · 2019: 50 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 2
FWCI
10.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annual Review of Food Science and Technology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Edible Oils Quality and Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
Keywords
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, stearidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, food sources, fatty acid metabolism, bioavailability, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, depression, visual development, brain development, maternal and child health
MeSH terms
Biological Availability, Fish Oils, Food, Humans, Preventive Medicine, Molecular Structure, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Functional Food, Aquatic Organisms

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