Alpha-Linolenic Acid
An omega-3 essential fatty acid found in sources such as flax, hemp, perilla and chia seeds/oils. Alpha-linolenic acid is a precursor to the essential metabolites EPA and DHA, although conversion is often limited and inefficient, due to factors such as gender and competition with (omega-6) linoleic acid – which is often oversupplied in the diet.
Fish Oil
A source of pre-formed, omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which play important physiological roles. Fish oil (either in supplement or food form, such as from fatty fish) has a variety of therapeutic and health benefits, particularly w/respect to preventing cardiovascular disease. Fish oil – in combination with exercise – can also enhance fat loss.
See the Fish Oil review for more information.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
An omega-3 fatty acid produced in the body from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) – a metabolite of the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid. Fatty fish, fish oil and microalgae are dietary sources of pre-formed DHA. DHA is the most abundant essential fatty acid in the brain and is a precursor for the docosanoids, a series of hormone-like signalling molecules.
DHA and EPA play important roles in lipid metabolism, neurological development/health and disease prevention.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
An omega-3 fatty acid produced in the body from alpha-linolenic acid. Fatty fish, fish oil and microalgae are dietary sources of pre-formed EPA. EPA is incorporated into cell membrane phospholipids, and serves as a precursor to anti-inflammatory eicosanoids such as PGE3 and PGF3…as such EPA-derived eicosanoids mediate the inflammatory effects of arachidonic acid-derived, pro-inflammatory eicosanoids.
EPA and its metabolite, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), play important roles in lipid metabolism, neurological development/health and disease prevention.
Arachidonic Acid
An omega-6 fatty acid formed in the body from linoleic acid—an essential fatty acid found in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils (pre-formed arachidonic acid is also found in food sources such as red meat, eggs and poultry). Like the omega-3 metabolites EPA and DHA, arachidonic acid (AA) is incorporated into cell membrane phospholipids. When released, it can form a number of biologically active metabolites known collectively as “eicosanoids.” In general, the omega-3-based eicosanoids tend to be anti-inflammatory, while the omega-6 based eicosanoids are pro-inflammatory. Two of the latter, PGF2a and PGE2 may play roles in muscle protein synthesis, which is the rationale for AA supplementation.
Fucoxanthin
A carotenoid isolated from brown seaweed (such as Undaria pinnatifida, also known as “wakame” in Japan). Fucoxanthin is touted as a weight loss nutrient, on the strength of several studies in rodents that found it reduced body fat when taken alone, as well as with medium chain triglycerides or fish oil. Human studies, however, are lacking – although there is one that shows dietary fucoxanthin is poorly absorbed.
Since carotenoid absorption is enhanced by fat, however, co-ingestion with a source of dietary fat (such as MCTs or fish oil, as suggested by the above animal experiments), could improve bioavailability. Nonetheless, more research needs to be done before fucoxanthin can be given a solid “thumbs up” for weight loss.
