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Essential fatty acids are mediators of brain biochemistry and cognitive functions
Author(s) -
Yehuda Shlomo,
Rabinovitz Sharon,
Mostofsky David I.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19990615)56:6<565::aid-jnr2>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - hormone , biochemistry , cognition , function (biology) , brain function , fatty acid , chemistry , biology , neuroscience , psychology , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract Major advances have been made in understanding the biochemistry of essential fatty acids (FA) and their interactions with metabolic pathways leading to the production of longer and more complex fatty acids and lipids. Less understood are the roles played by FA which are known to affect neurotransmitters, peptides, releasing factors, hormones, and a variety of physiological and cognitive processes. Based on empirical findings we propose that (a) FA exert a controlling function in the modulation of neuronal membrane fluidity, and (b) the critical factor in FA action and efficacy is not absolute level but rather the ratio between various groups of FA. This approach unifies the biochemical and cognitive results obtained from many different and unrelated fields of research. J. Neurosci. Res. 56:565–570, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.