Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Keys to Nutritional Health and Disease

This book argues for the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in our diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are a must in our daily diet, as the human body cannot synthesize it. The human body is crippled in evolution; we are deprived of the genes that are needed to synthesize these vital molecules. Except for regular fish eaters, the majority of the human population does not get adequate omega-3 fatty acid in their food. Fatty acids provide a structural framework for cells, tissues, and organs, as well as the building blocks for several bioactive ingredients, and they provide a wide range of benefits from general improvements in health to protection against inflammation and disease.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids discusses various sources of omega-3 fatty acid, health implications of omega-3 fatty acid intake, and remedial measures that can improve diet for those lacking in fatty acids. The book opens with a discussion of various sources of omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed, milk, eggs, and marine algae. Following this, is a detailed discussion of the effect omega-3 intake has on different conditions, like pregnancy, psoriasis, aging disorders, cardiovascular events, obesity, and non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s. This much-expanded edition includes new chapters on topics such as the linoleic-to-linolenic dietary intake ratio, the role of omega-3 fatty acids in eye health, the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease, and the influence of omega-3 fatty acids on bone turnover and energy metabolism.

An indispensable text designed for nutritionists, dietitians, clinicians and health-related professionals, Omega-3 Fatty Acids presents a comprehensive assessment of the current knowledge about the nutritional effects of omega-3 fatty acids and their delivery in foods.

Dr. Anand Zanwar is currently working as Scientist in-charge of ICAR-AICRP-Linseed Value Addition Centre at Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune. The research focus is to study pharmacological and nutritional aspects of omega-3 fatty acid. The present research program focused on development of value-added products from flaxseed/linseed for developing omega-3 fortified functional food and evaluating its safety, efficacy, stability and acceptability is being carried out. Dr. Zanwar edited the 2016 first edition of Omega-3 Fatty Acids published by Springer. He has more 50 peer-reviewed publications (book chapters, original research articles and patent applications) to his credit. He has generated funds through various funding agencies such as DST-SERB. CDRC, Pune and ICAR, New Delhi. He is a recipient of the Early Career Research Award by DST-SERB, New Delhi in 2017 and the Young Investigator Award by the Asia-Pacific Federation of the International Atherosclerosis Society, Japan in 2014.

Dr. Sharad P Adekar is currently working as Lead Medical Chair at WCG IRB, Puyallup 98373, Washington. He is an innovative and highly skilled physician-scientist with over 15 years of hands-on experience in human hybridoma in terms of discovery, lead optimization and preclinical development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics. He has patented a novel human hybridoma technology and created human monoclonal antibodies against cancer antigens, vaccinia virus, rabies virus, influenza virus, botulinum neurotoxin, clostridium difficile toxin and amyloid peptides in Alzheimer’s disease. He has a demonstrated ability to develop and optimize novel research approaches and to successfully implement those ideas while collaborating with different groups. He is skilled in translating business objectives into action plans and scientific methods necessary to drive a team. He has generated funds through various research grants like RO1, SBIR. He has also worked extensively on Omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular diseases as well as in Pregnancy-induced hypertension. He also served as editor on the 2016 first edition of Omega-3 Fatty Acids published by Springer.

Dr. Mahabaleshwar V. Hegde is currently working as Scientific advisor at Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune and Director, for Centre for Innovation in Nutrition Health Disease and Real World Nutrition Laboratory Foundation, Pune. He has guided 15 students for their Ph.D. and 25 students for their M. Phil, M.Pharm, MD, MS, MDS in the areas of omega-3 nutrition, functional foods, cancer, enzymology, cardiology, schizophrenia, recombinant DNA technology, DNA sequencing, prenatal diagnosis, thalassemia carrier detection, etc. He has over 50 years of teaching and research experience at University of Pune and Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University),Pune. He has published over 75 papers in International journals and co-authored 4 books, 15 chapters in books. He served as editor on the 2016 first edition of Omega-3 Fatty Acids published by Springer. For the last 20 years devoted and fully committed to “Omega-3 nutritional security,” through: Flax agriculture- post harvest technology for human health and IQ.