Structural Equation Modeling for Analyzing Erythrocyte Fatty Acids in Framingham

Figure 1

Polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis [7]. Permission to reproduce this figure was granted on December 26, 2013, from the journals’ copyright clearance center. Biosynthesis of long-chain n-3 and n-6 series polyunsaturated FAs from their 18-carbon precursors. The terminal methyl group is carbon 1 and the n-3 and n-6 series of FAs are termed according to the position of the first double bond: after carbon 3 and carbon 6, respectively. Biologically important FAs are highlighted with a gray box. Newly added/removed carbons or double bonds introduced at each step are colored red. Signaling molecules derived from AA, EPA, and DHA are noted in blue. LA, linoleic acid; LNA, linolenic acid; AA, arachidonic acid; EPA, eicosapentanoic acid; DPA, docosapentanoic acid; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; COX, cyclooxygenase; LOX, lipoxygenase; PG, prostaglandin; and LT, leukotriene.