Future of Omega 3 in Nutrition

Abstract

In this article we review the international recommendations for n-3 fatty acid (omega 3) oral supplement and their rule in enteral nutrition formulas. The metabolic action of omega3 depends on its metabolism to DHA and EPA. Also the activity of desaturases that stimulate this process increases with insulin, exercise, peroxisome proliferators and oestrogens in the fertile women, While it reduce with oligoelements and protein deficiencies, fasting, sedentary lifestyle, age <30 years, cigarette smoking, cholesterol, alcohol, trans and saturated fatty acids, stress hormones (adrenaline and glucocorticoids) and insulin deficiency. Most of strategy recommends 20-30% of general energy must come from fat, 8-11% come from saturated fat, 7-9 % polyunsaturated and 15-20 come from monosaturated fat. The recommended daily intake of n-3 fatty acid is 0.5-2 gram or 0.5-2 % of entire caloric ingestion with a maximum limit of 3 grams daily. While for n-6 fatty acid the recommendation is 2.5-8 % of entire caloric ingestion. The DHA and EPA content should be minimum 500/Day and the EPA/DHA ratio is 2:1 in the majority of them. The formulas of nutrition standard present a suitable content in fats, but the majority of products containing EPA and DHA exceed the limit of 3 g/day. Some of formulas that are designed for the weak elderly people did not include EPA or DHA, and if include them, their concentration either too much or with a percent that different from the percentage which is found in oil of fish.