Association of FADS2 polymorphism rs174538 with fatty acid metabolism and disease severity in Japanese patients with Crohn’s disease

Figure 1 Polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acid derived eicosanoids. n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) such as linoleic acid are metabolized to arachidonic acid by delta 6 and delta 5 desaturases. Additionally, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) such as α-linolenic acid (ALA) are also metabolized to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) by these desaturases. n-3 PUFAs such as ALA and EPA may inhibit the metabolism of n-6 PUFA and the arachidonate cascade by competitively antagonizing enzymes involved in the metabolic process; i.e., delta 6 and delta 5 desaturases, cyclooxygenase, and 5 lipoxygenase. AA: Arachidonic acid; ALA: Α-linolenic acid; DGLA: Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid; EDA: Eicosadienoic acid; EPA: Eicosapentaenoic acid; GLA: γ-linolenic acid; LA: Linoleic acid; LT: Leukotriene; PUFA: Polyunsaturated fatty acid; PG: Prostaglandin; TX: Thromboxane.