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Docosahexaenoic acid accumulation in the prenatal brain: a purported role in combating oxidative stress
Author(s) -
Yavin E.,
Green P.,
Brand A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.85.s2.3_4.x
Subject(s) - docosahexaenoic acid , antioxidant , oxidative stress , reactive oxygen species , polyunsaturated fatty acid , biochemistry , fatty acid , chemistry , neurochemistry , biology , neuroscience , neurology
Harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their byproducts generated during normal physiological activity are maintained at low levels due to a counteracting antioxidant defense mechanism that involves several enzymes and low molecular weight reducing compounds. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, n‐3, 22:6) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that has been shown in model membranes to serve as target for ROS and form lipid hydroperoxides (LHO). In brain tissue DHA may be particularly susceptible to ROS, nevertheless certain experimental results indicate no change or even decreased LHO following DHA or other n‐3 fatty acid supplements (1). The possibility that DHA in association with the vinyl ether bond of plasmalogens may subserve as an antioxidant will be evaluated in the prenatal brain at the time when a highly selective rise of DHA has been found (2).