As one of the three major nutrients, fats have always been misunderstood. It seems that when it comes to fats, it is always associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic diseases, and so on. However, extensive research has shown that a reasonable intake of fatty acids is crucial for health, especially in terms of immune health. The supportive effects of different fatty acids also vary, and here we will summarize the important role of fatty acids in immune health with different types of vegetable oils.
Categories of fatty acids
Fatty acids are a class of compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and are the main components of neutral fats, phospholipids, and glycolipids. Fatty acids can be classified according to the length of their carbon chain: short-chain fatty acids, with less than 6 carbon atoms in their chain, also known as volatile fatty acids; medium-chain fatty acids, with carbon atoms ranging from 6 to 12 in their chain, and the main components are caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10); long-chain fatty acids, with more than 12 carbon atoms in their chain. Generally, the fatty acids contained in foods are mostly long-chain fatty acids. Fatty acids can also be classified into three categories based on the saturation of their carbon-hydrogen chains: saturated fatty acids, with no unsaturated bonds in their carbon-hydrogen chains; monounsaturated fatty acids, with one unsaturated bond in their carbon-hydrogen chains; and polyunsaturated fatty acids, with two more unsaturated bonds in their carbon-hydrogen chains.
Directly beneficial to immune health - Polyunsaturated fatty acids
There are two types of polyunsaturated fatty acids: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The most common n-3 fatty acid is alpha-linolenic acid, while the most common n-6 fatty acid is linoleic acid. Research has shown that n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids have a significant impact on immune function, with alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid being the most extensively studied. Alpha-linolenic acid can be converted into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the body, while linoleic acid can be converted into arachidonic acid (AA). These fatty acids are precursors of the twenty-carbon class and can affect immune cells, thereby influencing human health. Polyunsaturated fatty acids also support the immune system by regulating phagocytosis, promoting cytokine production, and facilitating leukocyte migration and antibody expression in macrophages.
Omega-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids
Research indicates that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. They can inhibit cell-mediated immune responses, suppress antibody expression in monocytes, reduce lymphocyte proliferation, and decrease the production of cytokines, antibodies, and molecular adhesion molecules. Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can reduce the function of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, including the production of inflammatory mediators.
Animal studies have shown that feeding n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can reduce stress responses caused by toxins. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can also reduce decomposition metabolism, fever response, and the production of the twenty-carbon class. Supplementing with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can lower the incidence of inflammation and immune-related diseases because they can suppress some self-reactive T cells.
Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids
N-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids can increase the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and also inhibit cell-mediated immune responses. Increasing the amount of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in animal diets can reduce T cell differentiation, lower CD4T lymphocyte levels in mouse spleen, and significantly increase IgE secretion. Rat experiments have shown that n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids may alter the composition of immune cell fatty acids and have immunomodulatory effects.
Linic acid can be converted into arachidonic acid in the body, which can be oxidized into twenty-carbon class - effective mediators of inflammation that play an important role in inflammation and immune regulation, such as adjusting the secretion of immune regulatory cytokines to enhance immune function. Walnut oil is rich in both Omega-6 and Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic acid content exceeding 50%.
Sunflower oil also is a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Olive oil, also known as liquid gold, has an average content of monounsaturated fatty acids of up to 78%. Clinical trials have shown that consuming olive oil or a diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids can improve the levels of biomarkers for pro-inflammatory factors. A systematic review conducted by Schwingshackl et al. (2015) showed that daily intake of olive oil (in usual amounts) can significantly reduce levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. However, there is heterogeneity between the experimental designs of different studies, so further meta-analysis is needed. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 28 patients with hypertriglyceridemia and 14 healthy men who consumed a diet rich in either refined olive oil (high in oleic acid) or high-palmitic acid sunflower seed oil. The results showed that postprandial soluble adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) levels were reduced in the high-oleic acid group.
Saturated fatty acids indirectly support immune health
Although there is no direct evidence that saturated fatty acids have a direct supportive effect on immune health, medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and coconut oil, which contain "medium-chain fatty acids", have unique physiological benefits that indirectly support immune health.
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) are triglycerides composed of 6-12 carbon fatty acids, which means that MCT refers to triglycerides composed mainly of medium-chain fatty acids. As we know, ordinary vegetable oils are composed of long-chain fatty acids, which are hydrolyzed in the small intestine, re-esterified into triglycerides, and combined with proteins and phospholipids to form chylomicrons, which are then absorbed through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream through the lymphatic system, and then dispersed to various cells. Furthermore, long-chain fatty acids eventually become fat tissue in the body and are stored in the body.
MCTs, on the other hand, are directly transported to the liver for efficient breakdown and energy production in the body. Their digestion and absorption rate is 4 times faster than that of ordinary long-chain fatty acids, and their metabolism rate is 10 times faster, making it difficult to form fat and not causing obesity. Moreover, MCT can enhance the absorption of calcium and amino acids. HSF MCT products are derived from palm or coconut, with a total content of C8 and C10 fatty acids exceeding 90%. They are colorless, tasteless, and have good stability.
Due to the difficulty of fatty acid oils in dissolving in water and their short shelf life, their application range is limited. Therefore, HSF Biotech has successfully developed a series of functional fatty acid powder products using its microencapsulation technology. This expands the application of various fatty acid oils. HSF Biotech as olive oil powder, MCT powder, sunflower seed oil powder, flaxseed oil powder, and high oleic acid sunflower oil powder produces a complete range of oil and fat products with stable batches, which are popular with various food, beverage, and health product brands.
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