1: Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2008 Jul;9(7):735-43.

The emerging role of docosahexaenoic acid in neuroinflammation.

Orr SK, Bazinet RP.

University of Toronto, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine,
FitzGerald Building, 150 College Street, Room 306, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada.

Epidemiological studies have linked fish consumption to lower rates of
neurological diseases. Fish contains high levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty
acids (n-3 PUFA), and several lines of evidence suggest that the n-3 PUFA
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) acts in the brain via anti-apoptotic and
neurotrophic pathways. In addition, DHA may act through anti-neuroinflammatory
pathways, as DHA possesses anti-inflammatory properties in the periphery.
Evidence from animal models has indicated that DHA and its derivatives (resolvin
D1 and protectin D1) attenuate colitis, peritonitis and ischemic stroke. n-3 PUFA
deprivation in rats decreases brain levels of DHA and increases markers of the
brain arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) cascade, a proinflammatory pathway. Thus,
chronic low intake of n-3 PUFA may predispose the brain to weak
anti-inflammatory, as well as strong proinflammatory signals. Neurological
disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and major
depression, display a neuroinflammatory component. n-3 PUFA supplementation, as
well as drugs targeting brain PUFA metabolism, are promising candidates in the
prevention and treatment of neurological disorders.


PMID: 18600579 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum