Dietary fatty acids and human health

A considerable amount of evidence has accumulated to support the view that the very long chain omega 3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) have beneficial cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory properties and that levels of their consumption are insufficient in most Western diets. More recently, attention has been given to the possibility that the precursor omega-3 PUFA, alpha linolenic acid (ALNA), may share some of the beneficial actions of EPA/DHA on human health. Further research into the metabolism and physiological actions of ALNA, and comparisons with EPA/DHA, is needed before conclusions regarding the optimal amounts and types of omega-3 PUFA for human health can be defined. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which arises as a metabolic by-product of rumen hydrogenation and which is found in foods of animal origin, has been proposed to possess potent health promoting properties, but much of this research has been conducted in experimental animals. There is an urgent need for complementary stud- ies in human volunteers, to confirm the putative anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherogenic, anti-lipogenic and immuno-suppressive properties of CLA. human health / fatty acids / omega-3 PUFA / conjugated linoleic acid Resume — Acides gras alimentaires et sante humaine. Il a ete amplement demontre que les acides gras a tres longue chaine en omega 3, les acides eicoapentaenoique (EPA) et decosahexaenoique (DHA) ont des effets positifs relatifs a l'apparition des maladies cardio-vasculaires, et des propriete anti-inflammatoires. Leur consommation par l'Homme est insuffisante dans la plupart des pays occi- dentaux. Recemment il est apparu que l'acide alpha linolenique, precurseur des acides gras en omega 3, pouvait partager avec l'EPA et le DHA certains effets positifs sur la sante humaine. Des recherches complementaires sur le metabolisme et le role physiologique de l'acide alpha linolenique, ainsi que des comparaisons avec l'EPA et le DHA sont necessaires avant de pouvoir definir les apports recom- mandes optimaux de chacun de ces acides gras. L'acide linoleique conjugue (CLA) qui provient du metabolisme ruminal des acides gras et qui est present dans les aliments d'origine animale, a ete decrit comme potentiellement favorable a la sante humaine, mais la plupart des experimentations ont ete conduites sur animaux de laboratoire. Il y a une urgence a realiser des etudes complementaires sur des volontaires humains, afin de confirmer les proprietes annoncees du CLA, a savoir des effets anti-carcinogene, anti-atherogene, anti-lipogenique et une modulation de l'immunite.