1.0 INTRODUCTION
Fish is highly nutritious, tasty and easily digested food which is much sought after by a broad cross-section of the world's population, especially in the developing countries. It is approximated that about 60% of people in many developing countries depend on fish for over 30% of their animal protein supplies, while nearly 80% in most developed countries obtain less than 20% of their animal protein from fish. However, with the increased awareness of the health benefits of eating fish and the ensuing rise in fish prices, these figures are rapidly changing. Fish also contains significant amounts of all essential amino acids, particularly lysine in which cereals are relatively poor. Fish protein can be used therefore to complement …show more content…
In marine fish, these fatty acids constitute only about 2% of the total lipids, which is a small percentage when compared to many vegetable oils. However, fish oils contain other "essential" polyunsaturated fatty acids which act in the same way as linoleic and arachidonic acids. As members of the linolenic acid family (first double bond in the third position, ω-3 counted from the terminal methyl group), they also have neurological benefits in growing children. One of these fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic (C20: 5 ω 3), has attracted considerable attention since Danish scientists found a significant amount in the diet of a group of Greenland Eskimos who proved virtually free from arteriosclerosis. Convincing evidence now exists for the significant role fish and fish oils play in decreasing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and in improving foetal brain development (Osibona, …show more content…
Long chain, n-3 PUFA cannot be synthesized by humans and must be obtained from the diet. It is known that polyunsaturated fatty acids can regulate prostaglandin synthesis and hence induce wound healing. The ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been shown to have positive effects on cardiovascular diseases and cancers. It is thus important, for human health, to increase the consumption of fish and fish products which are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids composition may vary among species of fish, even among fresh water and marine fish. Certain amino acids like aspartic acid, glycine and glutamic acid are also known to play a key role in the process of wound healing (Hossain,
Fish is highly nutritious, tasty and easily digested food which is much sought after by a broad cross-section of the world's population, especially in the developing countries. It is approximated that about 60% of people in many developing countries depend on fish for over 30% of their animal protein supplies, while nearly 80% in most developed countries obtain less than 20% of their animal protein from fish. However, with the increased awareness of the health benefits of eating fish and the ensuing rise in fish prices, these figures are rapidly changing. Fish also contains significant amounts of all essential amino acids, particularly lysine in which cereals are relatively poor. Fish protein can be used therefore to complement …show more content…
In marine fish, these fatty acids constitute only about 2% of the total lipids, which is a small percentage when compared to many vegetable oils. However, fish oils contain other "essential" polyunsaturated fatty acids which act in the same way as linoleic and arachidonic acids. As members of the linolenic acid family (first double bond in the third position, ω-3 counted from the terminal methyl group), they also have neurological benefits in growing children. One of these fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic (C20: 5 ω 3), has attracted considerable attention since Danish scientists found a significant amount in the diet of a group of Greenland Eskimos who proved virtually free from arteriosclerosis. Convincing evidence now exists for the significant role fish and fish oils play in decreasing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and in improving foetal brain development (Osibona, …show more content…
Long chain, n-3 PUFA cannot be synthesized by humans and must be obtained from the diet. It is known that polyunsaturated fatty acids can regulate prostaglandin synthesis and hence induce wound healing. The ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been shown to have positive effects on cardiovascular diseases and cancers. It is thus important, for human health, to increase the consumption of fish and fish products which are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids composition may vary among species of fish, even among fresh water and marine fish. Certain amino acids like aspartic acid, glycine and glutamic acid are also known to play a key role in the process of wound healing (Hossain,