Clinical applications of C₁₈ and C₂₀ chain length polyunsaturated fatty acids and their biotechnological production in plants

A potential revolution in FA therapies is on the horizon. In recent years, the full magnitude of various FA treat ments and their overall importance to health has become increas ingly apparent. Fetal and infant nutrition studies have clearly shown that FA status at birth can have life-long health implica tions affecting eye and brain function, insulin resistance, and blood pressure control. As well, nutrition studies have identifiee dietary imbalances and deficiencies that have the potential tc alter the health of future generations severely and to promote pro gression of age-related degenerative disorders. Mixtures of naturally occurring FA have shown promise as therapeutic agents for a diverse range of health conditions includ ing atopic eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and neurological problems. Through the 1990s, the creation o technologies to concentrate and formulate pharmacologically active individual FA components as well as tailored combinations propelled development of this new drug category. However, high production costs and government regulatory encumbrance limited the expansion of this emerging pharmaceutical sector. Fortunately, many countries are now creating regulatory framework; that are better suited for product evaluation and control of the manufacturing FA products than historical drug models, and hence expansion in this area is now anticipated.