Essential Fatty Acids Quiz!

Polyunsaturated Fatty acids of 20 carbon that produce prostaglandins and cannot be synthesized by the human body.

Examples of this type of Fatty acids are Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Answer explanation

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) are unsaturated fatty acids that produce prostaglandins, a type of eicosanoid essential for kidney and gastrointestinal regulation and inhibition of platelet aggregation.

Alpha Linolenic Acid is also known as...

• Omega 6

• Omega 3

• Omega 9

• Omega 7

It is the unfavorable series of eicosanoids...

• Series 1 eicosanoid produced by Omega 6

• Series 2 eicosanoid produced by Omega 6

• Series 3 eicosanoids produced by Omega 3

• None of these answers is correct

Answer explanation

Series 1 and Series 3 eicosanoids are beneficial since they inhibit platelet aggregation hence preventing blood clots, they reduce pain and enhance the immune system and brain activity.

Series 2 eicosanoids promote blood clots, cause vasoconstriction, increase pain and depresses the immune system.

Why our diets lack Omega 3?

Answer explanation

The animals we consume are fed with grains instead of grass, which contain high levels of Omega 3.

Moreover, cooking processes may convert healthy Essential Fatty acids into unhealthy trans-fatty acids.

Finally, most plant oils we consume, are rich in Omega 6 but poor in Omega 3.

The 3 series eicosanoid are formed from...

• Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)

• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)

• Linoleic Acid

• Arachidonic Acid

Answer explanation

Omega 3 (alpha-linolenic acid) transforms into EPA, which later produces series-3 prostaglandins and inflammatory leukotrienes.

Inflammatory leukotrienes produced by EFA (essential fatty acids) are synthetized by the enzyme...

• cyclo-oxygenase

• lipoxygenase

• Both cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase

• None of the above

Answer explanation

Lipoxygenase catalyze the deoxygenation of Arachidonic acids and EPA's, producing inflammatory and less inflammatory leukotrienes correspondently.

"Bad" 2 series prostaglandins (eicosanoids) originate from...

• Arachidonic Acids

• EPA's

• Could it be Omega-3?

• I don't know

Answer explanation

Omega 6 is transformed into GLA that can become favorable series 1 prostaglandin or arachidonic acid.

Arachidonic Acid transforms into unfavorable series 2 prostaglandin and inflammatory leukotrienes.

NUMBER (example: 1, 2, 3, 4) of a NON-essential unsaturated Omega fatty acid that is also known as Oleic acids and have the ability to reduce the risk of stroke and increase HDL (good lipoprotein)

Answer explanation

Omega 9 can be found in vegetable and animal fats.

It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Also, increases HDL and decrease LDL and eliminate fat plaque buildup in the arteries.

Choose the INCORRECT statement about Omega-3.

Omega 3...

• Reduce Oxidative Stress

• Reduce production of pro-inflammatory compounds in chronic inflammatory diseases

• Improve triglyceride levels and serum lipids

• Promote coronary heart disease

Our diet must have 2 – 4 times more omega 6 than omega 3, however, the typical American diet contain 11- 30 times more omega 6 than omega 3. What happens if we have an excess of linoleic acid (Omega-6)?

• It will contribute to inflammation in heart disease

• Risk of asthma is increased

• Risk of arthritis is increased

• All of the above

Answer explanation

Excessive amounts of Omega 6 contribute to inflammation in heart disease, cancer, asthma, arthritis, and depression.