Современные представления о влиянии длинноцепочечных полиненасыщенных жирных кислот на развитие нервной системы у детей (С.Г. Макарова, Е.А. Вишнёва)

The article presents current views on the role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in the development and functioning of the child ’ s nervous system. Despite the fact that a person needs LCPUFAs in small amounts, if compared with other nutrients, the provision of essential fatty acids in the early stages of the child ’ s development is critical not only in childhood, but also in the long run. The study of multiple LCPUFA functions leads to the fact that their adequate dietary intake has recently been regarded as one of the most important factors that determine the health of a child and significantly affect the maturation, development and functioning of the nervous system and visual organs. Provision of body with active LCPUFAs depends not only on intake of their predecessors or acids themselves together with food, but also on the activity of endogenous desaturases, which is determined by genes. The article describes the main factors affecting the supply of LCPUFAs to the child ’ s body in prenatal period of development, postnatal period, early childhood and later life, as well as conditions associated with deficits of LCPUFAs. Key words : long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, nervous system, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, ω- 3 fatty acids.