Essential fatty acids (EFA) are fatty acids that must be obtained from the diet because they can not be biosynthesized by human or animals. Gamma fatty acids contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DHGLA, 20:3n-6) as intermediate metabolites of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6), which is an EFA found in vegetable oils. GLA is an important essential fatty acid that is required by human and animals to function normally. Recently, studies have indicated that GLA may be an essential component of the cell membrane, as well as an active component of dietary supplements and medicine. GLA must beadministered through the diet because it is converted into DHGLA in the body quickly and completely. DHGLA is a key material involved in the metabolism of LA. GLA is biosysthesized by the rate limiting step of δc6-desaturase, which is an enzyme that desaturates LA, there by allowing it to be converted into DHGLA via chain elongation. In addition, DHGLA exerts bioactive effects via action as a precursor of eicosanoid series 1. Breast milk contains an abundant amount of GLA; however, GLA is also available directly in evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil, borage oil and hemp seed oil. In addition, GLA enriched animal and plant can be produced using biotechnology, and highly pure GLA can be extracted using supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which will allow economically feasible production of GLA for use in medicines.

• 박병성 | Park, Byung-Sung