Xiao Qiu

Production of Nutraceutical Fatty Acids in Oilseed Crops

Nutraceutical fatty acids refer to those fatty acids that are not usually associated with food, but appropriate dietary supplements of those fatty acids can promote our health or provide protection against some diseases. Based on this tentative definition, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and some fatty acids with conjugated double bonds would stay in this category. Polyunsaturated fatty acids contain two or more double bonds and have long been recognized as essential nutrients for mammals (Gill & Valivety, 1997; Spector 1999). For instance, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), rich in the cells of mammalian retina and brain tissues, was shown to be essential for the normal function of human eye and brain, as well as beneficial for patients who suffer from other diseases (Horrocks and Yeo, 1999; Uauy et al, 2001). Conjugated fatty acids are newly recognized nutraceutical compounds, within which, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is presently the most popular. Dietary supplements of this fatty acid was shown to inhibit chemical-induced skin and stomach cancers, reduce development of atherosclerosis and enhance immune function in mammals (Pariza, 1997).