DHA promotes cell differentiation and stimulates the synthesis of the peroxisomal enzymes necessary for plasmalogen synthesis. Plasmalogens are involved in signaling mechanisms in the brain. DHA turns over rapidly in the brain, but most is then recycled back into phospholipids. DHA is very concentrated in the retina where it is involved in the transduction of light to electrical signals. DHA is also enriched in the nerve-endings where it is mostly in the ethanolamine plasmalogens. Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a genetic disease of peroxisomes in which DHA, and thus plasmalogens, are not formed. The infants develop mental retardation because myelin, which requires plasmalogen, is not formed. ALD can be treated with DHA.
The first lipid changes in Alzheimer disease (AD) are decreased levels
of DHA and ethanolamine plasmalogens. The breakdown of ethanolamine
plasmalogens may enable the abnormal cleavage by gamma-secretase to
produce Abeta. The lack of plasmalogens also leads to the loss of
nerve-endings. Some success has been had with AD treatment with DHA
supplements.
Key words:
Omega-3, DHA, EPA, plasmalogens, eicosanoids
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