What are omega-3 fatty acids? A quick chemistry lesson.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for all mammals and they must be supplied in the diet. They are part of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) family, which have two or more double bonds. All fatty acids are molecules that have both a carboxyl end (COOH or acid end) and a methyl or CH3 end. Cold water fish and fish oils are good sources of the long chain omega-3 fatty acids; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while walnuts, flax, canola and soybean oils are good sources of the essential omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). All of the omega-3 fatty acids have at least three double bonds. These double bonds between carbon atoms are counted starting from the methyl end of the fatty acid molecule (as shown in the two dimensional structure of EPA below). EPA is a 20 carbon fatty acid. The left end on the two dimensional structure below is the COOH group (the double line with an O at the top and also the OH group connected to the last point on the line structure). The methyl end is to the right. The number of carbons (points on the line structure shown below) before the first double bond counting from the methyl end differentiates the omega-3 fatty acids from the omega-6 fatty acids (the other type of essential fatty acids in our diet). As illustrated below, the omega-3 fatty acid EPA, has its first double bond (two horizontal lines) located at the 3rd carbon counting from the methyl end of the structure. Hence, the location of the first double bond counting from the methyl end makes EPA an omega-3 fatty acid.

EPA is considered a long chain omega-3 fatty acid and is found in cold water, fatty fish and fish oils. DHA is another omega-3 fatty acid also found in marine sources and used to fortify several food products. Below is a structure of DHA; this is a ball and stick figure to illustrate the three dimensional aspect of this fatty acid molecule. Oxygen atoms are represented in red and the hydrogen atoms in blue. The white and yellow represent carbon atoms having single bonds (white) and double bonds (yellow), respectively in the fatty acid molecule. For more information on the chemistry of fatty acids see Omega-3 fatty acid structures and Food Chemistry Experiment Book.

International Omega-3 Learning and Education Consortium for Health and Medicine http://www.omega3learning.purdue.edu/