FATSSUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY :DR. I.N PATEL NEETU GOUDAFOOD AND NUTRITION 04-HOMMA-01289-2014

HISTORY OF FATS In the early 1900s, dietary fat was

viewed simply as a source of calories, interchangeable with carbohydrates.

George and Mildred Burr discovered that fatty acids were critical to health. If fatty acids were missing in the diet, a deficiency syndrome ensued and often led to death. The Burrs identified linoleic acid as an essential fatty acid and coined the phrase “essential fatty acids.”

LIPID Any of a group of organic

compounds, including the fats, oils, waxes, sterols, and triglycerides, that are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar organic solvents, are oily to the touch, and together with carbohydrates and proteins constitute the principal structural material of living cells.

FATS Fats, also known as triglycerides,

are esters of three fatty acid chains and the alcohol glycerol.

The terms "oil", "fat", and "lipid" are often confused.

"Oil" normally refers to a fat with short or unsaturated

fatty acid chains that is liquid at room temperature.

“Fat" may specifically refer to fats that are solids at room temperature.

TYPES OF FAT:

Saturated FatThese are the biggest dietary cause ofhigh LDL levels (“bad cholesterol”). When looking at afood label, pay very close attention to the percentage

ofsaturated fat and avoid or limit any foods that are high.Saturated fat should be limited to 10% of calories.Saturated fats are found in animal products such asbutter, cheese, whole milk, ice cream, cream, and fattymeats. They are also found in some vegetable oils coconut, palm, and palm kernel oils.

Monounsaturated FatThese are fatty acids that have one

double bondin the fatty acid chain with all of the remaindercarbon atoms being single-bonded.

Polyunsaturated FatThese are lipids in which theconstituent hydrocarbon chainpossesses two or more carboncarbon double bonds.Polyunsaturated fat can be

foundmostly in nuts, seeds,

fish,algae, leafy greens, andkrill. "Unsaturated“ refers to

the fact thatthe molecules contain less than

themaximum amount of hydrogen.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS• Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are

fatty acids that humans and other animals must ingest because the body requires them for good health but cannot synthesize them.

• Only two fatty acids are known to be essential for humans: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid).

Types Abbreviation

Common Name Structure Dietary

Sources

Omega -3

Omega- 6

ALA α-Linolenic acid C18 : 3 Oils: flaxseed,

olive, canola

EPA Eicosapentaenoic acid C20 : 5 Fish oil,

marine algae

DHA Docosahexaenoic acid C22 : 6 Fish oil,

marine algae

LA Linoleic acid C18 : 2Oils: corn, soybean, sunflower, peanut

AA Arachidonic acid C20 : 4

Small amount in meat, dairy products and eggs

Alpha-linolenic acid- omega-3 fatty acid

• It is called “essential” because it is needed for normal human growth and development.

• Nuts, such as walnuts, are good sources of alpha-linolenic acid. It is also found in vegetable oils such as flaxseed (linseed) oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, and soybean oil, as well as in red meat and dairy products.

• There is some evidence that alpha-linolenic acid from dietary sources might be effective for all these uses except lowering cholesterol.

BENEFITS OF LINOLENIC ACID:1. Lowers triglycerides : Omega-3s eicosapentaenic

acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) can boost heart health and lower triglycerides (TGs).

So, taking fish oil supplements can lower the elevated blood TGs.  Having high levels of TGs is a risk factor for heart disease .

2. Promotes heart health :Omega-3 fatty acid promotes a healthy heart by lowering the overall risk of death associated with heart disease.

People with heart problem should include omega-3 fatty acids in their diet to lower their risk. Start eating fish at least once or twice a week to lower the risk of stroke and other heart problems. 

3. Reduces risk of rheumatoid arthritis: Efficient intake of omega-3 fatty acids helps in reducing the inflammation all throughout the body, especially in the blood vessels and joints. It also helps in reducing the stiffness of the bones and muscles and also reducing joint pains. Thus, it reduces the risk of various bone problems like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. 

4. Reduces depression: Omega-3 fatty acid also helps in boosting your mental health by reducing the level of depression and anxiety. Omega-3 fatty acids acts like an antidepressants to lower the level of depression. Besides, it also helps to reduce the depressive symptoms of various mental ailments like bipolar disorder. 

4. Prenatal health: A pregnant woman should take in sufficient amount of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet to boost the development of the fetus. Omega-3 fatty acids boost the health of pregnant women and the development of the fetus. Besides, it also helps in enhancing the visual and neurological development of the baby. 

5. Reduces asthma symptoms: The characteristic feature of asthma is inflammation in the airways. Omega-3 fatty acid helps in lowering the inflammation and thus reduces several asthma symptoms. 

6. Beneficial for diabetes patients: Diabetes patients usually have high triglyceride level and low good cholesterol level due to the high level of blood sugar in their body. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids by diabetics helps in lowering triglycerides and raises good cholesterol.

7. Reduces risk of Osteoporosis: Women who consume good intake of omega-3 fatty acids have a minimum risk of developing osteoporosis and other bone loss ailments. Omega-3 fatty acids help to increase the level of calcium in the body. It further improves bone strength by proper absorption of calcium into the bones. 

8. Reduces the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD): The two types of inflammatory bowel disorders are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Omega-3 fatty acids helps in reducing the symptoms associated with both types bowel disorders. It also helps to fasten the effect of medicines to treat these disorders.

9. Lowers the risk of breast cancer: Research suggests that women who consumed foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids over many years may be less likely to develop breast cancer.

10. Lowers the risk of prostate cancer: Men who consume sufficient amount of omega-3 fatty acids from various sources have a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. 

Linoleic acid omega-6 fatty acid

• It is a colorless liquid at room temperature. It has a lipid number of 18:2 cis,cis-9,12. From the chemistry perspective, linoleic acid is a carboxylic acid with an 18-carbon chain and two cis double bonds; with the first double bond located at the sixth carbon from the methyl end. Linoleic acid belongs to one of the two families of essential fatty acids, which means that the human body cannot synthesize it from other food components. It is abundant in many nuts, fatty seeds (flax seeds, hemp seeds, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, etc.).

BENEFITS OF LINOLEIC ACIDS:

1. Omega-6 fatty acids are used for reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering total cholesterol levels, lowering “bad” (LDL) cholesterol levels, raising “good” (HDL) cholesterol levels, and reducing cancer risk.

2. Growth: Omega 6 plays an important role in cell growth, and is thus essential for brain and muscle development. The omega 6 arachidonic acid (AA) is for this very reason added to most infant formulas. Both brain development and muscle development are critical for infants.

3. Omega 6 in the form of linoleic acid (LA) plays a critical role in the production of hormone like messengers. These PGE1 messengers from LA trigger immune responses, reduce fluid accumulation, and impact depression, multiple sclerosis, PMS mood swings, and brain disorders. Messengers made from arachidonic acid (AA) are called PGE2 and play an important role in swelling, pain, blood thinning, blood vessel spasms and accumulation of inflamed cells.

4. PGE1 from linoleic acid omega 6 is important in the nervous system, as a transmitter of nerve impulses.

HARMFUL EFFECTS DUE TO EXCESS CONSUMPTION OF

FATS Atherosclerosis• Eating foods rich in fats

increases your risk of developing atherosclerosis, which is a condition that causes the walls of the arteries to thicken. This constricts the flow of blood to the tissues, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Increased Cancer Risk

• Excessive consumption of dietary fats from dairy products and red meat increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.

HARMFUL EFFECTS DUE TO EXCESS CONSUMPTION OF

FATS

22

Risk of Obesity• Obesity occurs when you consume

more calories than you need. Excessive intake of both fats and carbohydrates hastens obesity.

Brain Injury• Eating foods high in saturated fats

may damage your hypothalamus -- which is the area of your brain that regulates energy balance.

Constipation• Diets that are high in fat can affect

your digestive organs, including the stomach and colon.If your diet is high in saturated fat to the detriment of your fiber intake, you may become constipated frequently

OLESTRA• Olestra (also known by its

brand name Olean) is a fat substitute that adds no fat, calories, or cholesterol to products. It has been used in the preparation of otherwise high-fat foods such as potato crisps, thereby lowering or eliminating their fat content. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) originally approved olestra for use as a replacement for fats and oils in prepackaged ready-to-eat snacks in 1996.

DISAVANTAGES OF OLESTRA

• Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools (anal leakage).

• Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E, and K have been added“.

• These symptoms, normally occurring only by excessive consumption in a short period of time, are known as steatorrhea, and caused by an excess of fat in stool.