Author(s)

Alberto Krayyem Arbex^1,2*, Vagner Rosa Bizarro¹, Julio Cesar Salles Santos¹, Lis Marina Mesquita Araújo¹, Ana Luísa Conceição de Jesus¹, Minelli Salles Alves Fernandes¹, Marcela Miranda Salles¹, Denise Rosso Tenório Wanderley Rocha¹, Aline Marcadenti^3,4

¹Division of Endocrinology, Faculdade IPEMED de Ciências Médicas (IPEMED), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
²Visiting Scientist of the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA.
³Postgraduate Studies Program in Cardiology, Instituto de Cardiologia/Funda??o Universitária de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul (IC/FUC), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
⁴Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFSCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Linoleic (LA) and α-linolenic acids (ALA) are considered essential fatty acids (EFA) because they are not produced by the human body. This way, EFAs sources must come from the diet. The primary dietary source of n-3 fatty acids is ALA, found in seeds and seed oils. Other important sources are fish oils such as tuna, salmon and herring. Currently, numerous studies suggest possible benefits of essential fatty acids in human health, such as in cardiovascular, cognitive and eye health, and also during pregnancy and childhood. This paper also discusses the impact of fatty acids in human metabolism, and the available evidence regarding its risks. It addresses the relevant debate regarding a general ban of trans fatty acids (TFA) from the world food market, because of the cardiovascular risks associated with its consumption.

Fatty Acids, Linoleic Acid, Alpha-Linolenic Acid, Cardiovascular Health, Trans Fatty Acids

Arbex, A. , Bizarro, V. , Santos, J. , Araújo, L. , de Jesus, A. , Fernandes, M. , Salles, M. , Rocha, D. and Marcadenti, A. (2015) The Impact of the Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) in Human Health. Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, 5, 98-104. doi: 10.4236/ojemd.2015.57013.