ESSENTIALITY OF DIETARY OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS IN PRIMATES

存在对ω-3脂肪酸或 α-亚麻酸家族一直是人类尚未解决的问题 营养 像欧米茄-6或亚油酸家族一样，欧米茄-3脂肪酸 不能由动物合成。 这些脂肪酸的高含量， 特别是二十二碳六烯酸（22：6 omega-3或DHA）， 视网膜和大脑皮层的磷脂表明了一个重要的作用 神经元和感光膜的功能。 我们现在已经 在恒河猴中产生的ω-3脂肪酸缺乏症 在整个妊娠期和婴儿期都处于贫困状态。 缺乏状态是 以生物化学和功能变化为特征。 血浆和 从出生到两个月， 岁的 大脑和视网膜中的DHA水平大大降低。 缺陷动物会出现视觉缺陷和异常视网膜电图。 我们现在建议继续研究现有的omega-3脂肪酸缺乏症， 猴子来研究这些问题： 1.缺乏状态是否会产生越来越多的视觉表现， 随着年龄的增长，？ 2.幼年缺陷动物在复合物测试中是否表现出损伤 学习？ 3.将纠正欧米茄-3脂肪酸缺乏的饮食与DHA或 亚麻酸纠正功能和生化异常， 缺陷猴子 此外，我们建议开始培育一批新的缺陷型成虫， 为了调查以下问题， 4.出生时缺乏DHA的婴儿恢复正常DHA水平的速度有多快 在用膳食ω-3脂肪酸（DHA或亚麻酸）膳食补充之后 酸）？ 视力丧失是否可以避免？ 这些研究将有助于确定灵长类动物的营养需求， omega-3脂肪酸在不同的发展阶段。 这项工作 对孕妇和哺乳期妇女最佳饮食的影响， 婴儿，也许还有老年人。 最后，这些研究将提供 灵长类动物大脑发育的生物化学信息。

The existence of a dietary requirement for fatty acids of the omega-3 or Alpha-linolenic acid family has been an unresolved issue in human nutrition. Like the omega-6 or linoleic acid family, omega-3 fatty acids cannot be synthesized by animals. The high content of these fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega-3 or DHA), in the phospholipids of the retina and cerebral cortex suggests an important role in the function of neuronal and photoreceptor membranes. We have now produced omega-3 fatty acid deficiency in rhesus monkeys by dietary deprivation throughout gestation and infancy. The deficiency state is characterized by both biochemical and functional changes. The plasma and tissues exhibit reduced levels of omega-3 fatty acids from birth to two years of age. Levels of DHA are greatly reduced in brain and retina. Visual defects and abnormal electroretinograms occur in deficient animals. We now propose to continue studies of existing omega-3 fatty acid deficient monkeys to investigate these questions: 1. Does the deficient state produce increasing manifestations of visual loss with increased age? 2. Do juvenile deficient animals show impairments in tests of complex learning? 3. Will the correction of the omega-3 fatty acid deficient diet with DHA or linolenic acid correct both the functional and biochemical abnormalities of deficient monkeys? In addition, we propose to begin breeding a new group of deficient adult females in order to investigate the following questions: 4. How rapidly will infants deficient at birth regain normal levels of DHA after dietary repletion with dietary omega-3 fatty acids (DHA or linolenic acid)? Will visual loss then be avoided? These studies will help determine the nutritional needs of primates for omega-3 fatty acids during different stages of development. This work has implications for the optimum diet of pregnant and lactating women, human infants, and perhaps of older humans. Finally, these studies will provide information about the biochemistry of the developing primate brain.