n-3多不饱和脂肪酸与儿童生长发育和健康

Beneficial effects of n - 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on child development and health

n-3多不饱和脂肪酸（n-3 PUFAs）作为膳食必需脂肪酸，具有广泛的生物学功能；现代人膳食n-3 PUFAs摄入处于相对或绝对缺乏状态。生命早期足量n-3 PUFAs的摄入，不仅对于保证胎儿及婴幼儿的正常生长发育至关重要，还有助于预防儿童青少年期注意力缺陷多动障碍、哮喘及过敏性疾病、高脂血症、非酒精性脂肪肝等慢性非感染性疾病的发生。人体利用前体亚麻酸（LNA）合成极长链的二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）的能力有限，必须摄取现成的EPA和DHA以满足机体的需求。对于孕妇以及婴幼儿来说，补充DHA和EPA的比例宜保持在5∶1以上。临床上，EPA和DHA已被用于上述这些慢性非感染性疾病的辅助治疗，可有效改善临床表现。

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids （n-3 PUFAs）, essential fatty acids for human body, have varied biological activities.They are absolutely or relatively deficient in modern human diets.Supplementation of n-3 PUFAs in early life is important for the optimal growth and development in fetus, infants and children, and well as for prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases in later life, such as attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, allergic diseases, asthma, hyperlipidemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.The human body can synthesize eicosapentaenoic acid （EPA） and docosahexaenoic acid （DHA） with linolenic acid, but the ability is limited.Therefore, intake of pre-formed EPA and DHA is needed for body requirement.For pregnant women and infants, supplementation of DHA and EPA with a ratio above 5∶1 is suggested.In clinic, n-3 PUFAs have been applied for treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases and proved to be beneficial in relief of symptoms.