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Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Retina

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Dietary ω3 and ω6 Fatty Acids

Abstract

The retina and brain contain exceptionallyy high concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, or 22:6 omega-3).1–3 This fatty acid is a component of the phospholipids, especially phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, which are basic structural constituents of cell membranes. Particularly rich in DHA are specialized neural membrans, such as those of synaptic endings4’5 and photoreceptor outer segments.6,7

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Martha Neuringer

  2. Division of Neuroscience, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA

    William E. Connor

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  1. Martha Neuringer
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  2. William E. Connor
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Claudio Galli

  2. ILSI Research Foundation, Washington, D.C., USA

    Artemis P. Simopoulos

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Neuringer, M., Connor, W.E. (1989). Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Retina. In: Galli, C., Simopoulos, A.P. (eds) Dietary ω3 and ω6 Fatty Acids. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2043-3_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2043-3_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-2045-7

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