ESSENTIALITY OF DIETARY OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS IN PRIMATES

膳食中omega-3脂肪酸的重要性仍然是一个未解决的问题 人类营养方面的问题。二十二碳六烯酸含量高 (22：6 omega3或DHA)在视网膜和大脑皮层的磷脂中 提示在光感受器和神经细胞膜中起重要作用 功能。我们正在研究omega-3脂肪酸的影响 恒河猴出生前和出生后发育过程中的剥夺。 视网膜和大脑磷脂中的DHA水平大大降低，视觉上 视力发育延迟，视网膜功能用 视网膜电信号(ERG)异常，几种行为改变 已被确认身份。对ERG的影响不能通过重新喂食来逆转 10个月或以上的鱼油或纯DHA。我们建议完成两个 目前正在进行的研究，以解决几个剩余的关键问题 关于膳食中omega-3脂肪酸缺乏和 补充： 1.哪种形式的膳食omega-3脂肪酸最适合 发展？婴儿是否应接受预制DHA、花生四烯酸和 其他存在于母乳中的超长链必需脂肪酸？我们 正在比较恒河猴婴儿接受治疗的几个方面的发育 一种提供亚麻酸的标准配方，在那些获得 含有模拟灵长类牛奶的脂肪酸组成的配方奶。 2.饮食中低omega-3脂肪酸的影响能否与那些 富含omega-6的脂肪酸？在目前的研究中，omega-3脂肪酸 不足的饮食与控制饮食中的omega-6水平相匹配 脂肪酸。 3.omega-3脂肪酸缺乏是否会影响感觉的其他方面 功能，以及它是否影响复杂的行为和认知能力？我们 对行为反应性和婴儿视力的影响有新的证据 信息处理，我们正在探索其他几个方面的 婴儿和成人的行为和认知功能。 4.缺乏和补充如何改变磷脂分子 视网膜的物种组成和脂肪酸组成， 大脑皮层和其他组织？密度和密度有变化吗？ 大脑皮层或关键水平突触的形态 神经递质及其受体？ 这些研究将有助于确定omega-3脂肪的营养需求。 酸，研究结果将具有重要的意义 人类婴儿配方奶粉的组成以及最佳配方 孕妇和哺乳期妇女的饮食。这些研究还将有助于 定义这些脂肪酸在神经、感觉和行为中的作用 发展。

The essentiality of dietary omega-3 fatty acids remains an unresolved issue in human nutrition. The high content of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6omega3 or DHA) in the phospholipids of the retina and cerebral cortex suggests an important role in photoreceptor and neuronal membrane functions. We are investigating the effects of omega-3 fatty acid deprivation in rhesus monkeys during prenatal and postnatal development. DHA levels in retinal and brain phospholipids were greatly reduced, visual acuity development was delayed, retinal function as measured with the electroretinogram (ERG) was abnormal, and several behavioral changes have been identified. Effects on the ERG were not reversible by refeeding with fish oil or pure DHA at 10 months or older. We propose to complete two studies which are now in progress to address several remaining critical questions about the effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency and supplementation: 1. What form of dietary omega-3 fatty acids is optimal for functional development? Should infants receive preformed DHA, arachidonic acid and the other very-long-chain essential fatty acids present in human milk? We are comparing several aspects of development in rhesus infants receiving a standard formula providing linolenic acid and in those receiving a formula with fatty acid composition simulating primate milk. 2. Can effects of low dietary omega-3 fatty acids be separated from those of high omega-6 fatty acids? In the current studies, omega-3 fatty acid deficient diets are matched to control diets in their level of omega-6 fatty acids. 3. Does omega-3 fatty acid deficiency affect other aspects of sensory function, and does it affect complex behaviors and cognitive abilities? We have new evidence for effects on behavioral reactivity and infant visual information processing, and we are exploring several other aspects of behavior and cognitive function in both infants and adults. 4. How do deficiency and supplementation alter phospholipid molecular species composition as well as the fatty acid composition of the retina, cerebral cortex and other tissues? Are there changes in the density and morphology of synapses in the cerebral cortex or in levels of key neurotransmitters and their receptors? These studies will help to determine nutritional needs for omega-3 fatty acids during development, and the results will have important implications for the composition of human infant formulas as well as for the optimum diets of pregnant and lactating women. These studies will also help to define the roles of these fatty acids in neural, sensory and behavioral development.