Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids
A class of fatty acids found in fish oils, especially from salmon and other cold-water fish, that acts to lower the levels of cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoproteins) in the blood. (LDL cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol.) Omega-3 fish oil is therefore thought to be a neutraceutical, a food that provides health benefits. Eating fish has been reported to protect against late age-related macular degeneration, a common eye disease. The maximum benefit appears to be from eating fish once a week. (In technical terms, omega-3 fatty acids have a double bond three carbons from the methyl moiety.)

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Omega-3 fatty acid — For an explanation of n and numerical nomenclature (such as n−3 or 18:3), see Fatty acid#Nomenclature. Types of fats in food Unsaturated fat Monounsaturated fat Polyunsaturated fat Trans fat Cis fat Omega fatty acids: ω−3 ω−6 ω−9 Saturated fat… …   Wikipedia

  • Omega-6 fatty acid — For an explanation of n and numerical nomenclature (such as n−6 or 18:2), see Fatty acid#Nomenclature. Types of fats in food Unsaturated fat Monounsaturated fat Polyunsaturated fat Trans fat Cis fat Omega fatty acids: ω−3 ω−6 ω−9 Saturated fat… …   Wikipedia

  • Omega-9 fatty acid — For an explanation of n and numerical nomenclature (such as n−9 or 18:1), see Fatty acid#Nomenclature. Types of fats in food Unsaturated fat Monounsaturated fat Polyunsaturated fat Trans fat Cis fat Omega fatty acids: ω−3 ω−6 ω−9 Saturated fat… …   Wikipedia

  • Fatty acids — Molecules that are long chains of lipid carboxylic acid found in fats and oils and in cell membranes as a component of phospholipids and glycolipids. (Carboxylic acid is an organic acid containing the functional group COOH.) Fatty acids come from …   Medical dictionary

  • Fatty acids,omega-3 — A class of fatty acids found in fish oils, especially from salmon and other cold water fish, that acts to lower the levels of cholesterol and LDL (low density lipoproteins) in the blood. (LDL cholesterol is the bad cholesterol.) Omega 3 fish oil… …   Medical dictionary

  • omega-3 fatty acid — noun any polyunsaturated fatty acid having a double bond between the third and fourth carbon atoms from the end of the molecule farthest from the carboxylic acid; they are found in green vegetables and in the oils of fish such as salmon and… …   Wiktionary

  • ω-6 fatty acids — omega 6 fatty acids unsaturated fatty acids in which the double bond closest to the methyl (omega) terminus of the molecule occurs at the sixth carbon from that end; they are present predominantly in vegetable and seed oils. Diets in which the… …   Medical dictionary

  • ω-3 fatty acids — omega 3 fatty acids unsaturated fatty acids in which the double bond closest to the methyl (omega) terminus of the molecule occurs at the third carbon from that end; they are present in marine animal fats and some vegetable oils. These fatty… …   Medical dictionary

  • unsaturated fatty acids — fatty acids containing one (monounsaturated) or multiple (polyunsaturated) double bonds; they predominate in most plant derived fats. The number and position of each double bond can be specified, as in the systematic names, or the position of the …   Medical dictionary

  • omega-3 fatty acid — noun a polyunsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has its first double valence bond three carbons from the beginning • Syn: ↑omega 3 • Hypernyms: ↑polyunsaturated fatty acid • Hyponyms: ↑alpha linolenic acid, ↑docosahexaenoic acid, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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