HEALTH MATTERS
OMEGA 3 FATTY
ACIDS
By Kepha Nyanumba
K
nowledge of the role of fatty
acids in determining health
and nutritional well-being has
expanded dramatically in the past 15
years.
Fatty acids are chains of carbons
with hydrogens attached to them
and an “acid” group at one end of the
molecule. Individual fatty acids serve
different purposes in the body.
There are three main types of fatty
acids: saturated, monounsaturated
and polyunsaturated. Polyunsaturated
fatty acids are of two kinds, omega-3
or omega-6.
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered
essential fatty acids. The human
body can make most of the types
of fats it needs from other fats or
raw materials. That isn’t the case
for omega-3 fatty acids. These are
essential fats since the body can’t
make them from scratch but must get
them from food.
It is important to have the proper
ratio of omega-3 and omega-6
in the diet. Omega-3 fatty acids
help reduce inflammation, and
most omega-6 fatty acids tend to
promote inflammation.
Studies suggest that higher dietary
omega-6 to omega-3 ratios appear
to be associated with worsening
inflammation over time and
a higher risk of death among
‘‘Omega-3 fatty acids are considered
essential fatty acids. The human body can
make most of the types of fats it needs from
other fats or raw materials. That isn’t the case
for omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential
fats since the body can’t make them from
scratch but must get them from food’’
72 MAL 13/16 ISSUE
hemodialysis patients.
Symptoms of Omega-3 Fatty Acid
Deficiency
Omega-3 deficiency refers to low or
insufficient levels of important longchain fatty acids, as these are required
to regulate cardiovascular, immune
and inflammatory pathways.
Given the importance of balancing
omega-6 intake with omega-3 intake,
if we are deficient in omega-3 we
have a greater risk of poor health and
disease.
There are a number of signs which
indicate a fatty acid deficiency. Low
fatty acid status in the body results
in easy-to-spot physical symptoms:
Soft, peeling or brittle nails; Heart
problems; Rough or dry ‘bumpy’ skin.
It also manifests in emotional
sensitivity (such as depression,
excessive mood swings or undue
anxiety), sleep problems (especially
difficulties in settling at night
and waking in the morning), and
attention problems (distractibility,
poor concentration and difficulties in
working memory).