Healthful omega-3 may worm its way into our diets

[ringmastery]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&ncid=676&e=6&u=/usatoday/20040205/ts_usatoday/healthfulomega3maywormitswayintoourdiets

Scientists have inserted a worm gene into mice, and the results of their efforts may one day transform steak and eggs into the heart-healthiest meal you could eat.

Mammals can't convert omega-6 fatty acids into the healthier omega-3 version. Even fish can't do it. Popular omega-3 sources such as salmon don't actually produce the fat - they accumulate it from the algae they eat.

Omega-6 and Omega-3 are fatty acids that can be obtained only through food. Both have many health benefits, but omega-3 has been shown to reduce significantly the risk of heart attack and stroke. Nutritionists urge a balance of both, but people generally consume more omega-6 because it is found in more common foods, such as cereals, vegetable oils and whole-grain breads.

But now, researchers at Harvard University have engineered a roundworm gene to convert omega-6 to omega-3 and have successfully transferred it into mice, according to an article in this week's issue of the science journal Nature.

Performing this feat of bio-engineering on animals such as cattle, pigs and chickens could lead to meat, eggs and dairy products that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The potential for meeting increased demand for omega-3 is huge, says lead researcher Jing Xuan Kang. "This is a safer and more convenient way than relying solely on fish oil."