| Abstract: | Omega‐3 (n‐3) fatty acids are widely recognized as being important in regulating many inflammatory disorders in man. However, metabolism of the parent n‐3 fatty acid α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n‐3) to the highly unsaturated bioactive fatty acids; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n‐3), in the body is limited. The first product in the pathway leading to EPA/DHA is the post‐Δ6 desaturase metabolite stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4n‐3). The activity of the Δ6‐desaturase enzyme is low in man and can be adversely influenced by several environmental factors including dietary fat. SDA has been shown, in several studies, to be rapidly and efficiently converted to EPA which is a probable factor in its bio‐activity. The main source of EPA and DHA in diet is fish oil which, owing to over‐fishing and its extensive use in aquaculture feed, is becoming a scarce resource. There clearly exists a need for a renewable source of a lipid containing the highly unsaturated n‐3 fatty acids EPA, DHA or SDA. Although the highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) have been commercially produced in micro‐organisms neither EPA nor DHA has been shown to exist in any quantity in land‐based plants. SDA is however found in several fungal and algal species and also in a small number of plant seed oils. Plants from the Boraginaceae family notably Echium species are particularly rich in SDA and Echium plantagineum has been grown commercially. Other plants from the Boraginaceae are being investigated and several have been identified that may offer benefits over Echium spp. Transgenic plants containing high levels of SDA have also been reported but engineering EPA or DHA into genetically modified higher plants is proving elusive. SDA‐containing lipids are of great interest in a number of areas such as fortified foods, dietary supplements, medicinal foods, pharmaceuticals and personal‐care products. |
