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The Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid: Implications and Application as a Marker to Diabetes

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Biomarkers in Diabetes

Abstract

Omega-3 and omega-6 groups of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are non-interconvertible and metabolically and functionally different, with key opposing metabolic activities in human physiology. The PUFA content of the cell membrane is mostly determined by dietary intake. They are a component of the cellular membrane, improving its fluidity and PUFAs must be released from the membrane by phospholipases in order for signal transmission to occur. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids exert their anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting lipogenesis and increasing the production of resolvins and protectins. n-3 PUFAs mediate some of these effects by antagonizing n-6 PUFA-induced proinflammatory prostaglandin E formation. Today’s industrialized societies with Westernized diet styles have higher overall energy intake, and n-6 PUFAs, but lower energy expenditure. Omega-3 PUFA attenuates ER stress and increases mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation and mitochondrial uncoupling. There is competition between omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 for desaturation enzymes. The unbalanced omega 6/omega 3 ratio in favor of omega 6 PUFAs contributes to the prevalence of atherosclerosis, obesity, and diabetes. n-3 PUFAs are considered to be more protective against inflammation compared with omega 6 PUFA, suggesting the importance of maintaining an ideal balance.

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Abbreviations

17-HpDHA:

17-hydroperoxydocosahexaenoic acid

17S-HDHA:

17(S)-hydroxy Docosahexaenoic Acid

5-HEPE:

5-Hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid

ALA:

Alpha-linolenic acid

ARA:

Arachidonic acid

DGLA:

Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

ETA:

Eicosatetraenoic acid

GPR120:

G protein-coupled receptor 120

IR:

Insulin Resistance

LA:

Linoleic acid

LC-PUFA:

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

LTB4:

Leukotriene B4

LTs:

Leukotrienes

MaR:

Maresins

NEFA:

Non-esterified fatty acids

PD:

Protectins

PGE2:

Prostaglandin E2

PGs:

Prostaglandins

PPAR-γ:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

Rv:

Resolvins

SPM:

Specialized proresolving mediators

T2DM:

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

TAG:

Triacylglycerol

TNF-α:

Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha

TXA2:

Thromboxane A2

Δ:

Delta

ω:

Omega

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Research Laboratory, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Karnataka, India

    Shilpa S. Shetty & Remya Varadarajan

  2. Department of Biochemistry/Central Research Laboratory, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Deralakatte, Karnataka, India

    N. Suchetha Kumari

Authors
  1. Shilpa S. Shetty
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  2. N. Suchetha Kumari
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  3. Remya Varadarajan
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Correspondence to Shilpa S. Shetty .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy

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Shetty, S.S., Suchetha Kumari, N., Varadarajan, R. (2023). The Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid: Implications and Application as a Marker to Diabetes. In: Patel, V.B., Preedy, V.R. (eds) Biomarkers in Diabetes. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08014-2_23

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