How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Support the Body's SPM Pathway
Omega-3 fatty acids get a lot of attention in nutrition conversations, often tied to heart health or brain function. Less commonly discussed is their role as raw material for specialized pro-resolving mediators, the signaling molecules involved in inflammation resolution. This article focuses specifically on that precursor relationship. This article focuses specifically on that precursor relationship, and on how SPMs support inflammation resolution once those precursors are converted. EPA and DHA as Building Blocks EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are two omega-3 fatty acids most commonly discussed in nutrition science. Both can serve as biochemical precursors for certain SPM families: ● Resolvins can be derived from either EPA or DHA. ● Protectins are primarily derived from DHA. ● Maresins are primarily derived from DHA. Lipoxins, the fourth major SPM family, are derived from arachidonic acid rather than omega-3 fats and fall outside this particula...