FAsTEST Fatty acid test. A large number of studies have shown that fats (quan-tity and especially quality of FA) are the major dietary compone-nts responsible of the health status (more than carbohydrates and proteins). Inappropriate FA levels may lead to dysfunctions and pathological states, such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in general, metabolic and hormonal alterations, CNS degenerative diseases, altered immune responses, cancers, … FAsTEST is a Fast and cheap Fatty Acid Test.

1. FASTEST ANALYSIS
FASTEST ANALYSIS FASTEST CREDITS
FAS TEST CREDITS
FAsTEST studies based on the whole blood analysis in the
16:0 palmitic 18:0 stearic areas of lipid nutrition in relation to physiologicals states
Satu-rated resulted in the following publications:
20:0 22:0 24:0
FA (SFA) 1. Marangoni F, Colombo C, Galli C. Anal Biochem. 2004;
Total SFA
16:1 326: 267-2
Mono- 2. Colombo L, Marangoni F., Stival G, Riva E, Galli C, Fatty Acids and Health
18:1n-9 Oleic (OA)
unsaturated Agostoni C. Pediatr Res. 2004; 56:1 Innovation in disease prevention
18:1 n-7 20:1 3. Risé P, Salvetti F, Galli C. Anal. Biochem. 2005; 346:
FA
22:1 24:1 182-4
(MUFA)
Total MUFA 4. Agostoni C, Galli C, Riva E, Colombo C, Giovannini M,
20:3 n-9 MEAD Marangoni F. J Pediatr. 2005; 147: 854-6
18:2 n-6 Linoleic (LA) 5. Marangoni F, Colombo C, Martiello A, Poli A, Paoletti R
18:3 n-6 Gamma Linoleic (GLA) and Galli C. Nutr Metab Cardio Vasc Dis 2007; 17: 457 – 61
20:3 n-6 Di-Homo-Gamma-Linolenic 6. Marangoni F, Colombo C, Martiello A, Negri E, Galli C.
Poly- Prostaglandins, Leukot and Essent Fatty Acids. 2007; 76: 87-9
(DHGLA)
unsaturated 7. C.Galli and F Marangoni Prostaglandins, Leukot and
20:4 n-6 Arachidonic (AA) Essent Fatty Acids. 2006;75:129-3
FA
22:4 n-6 22:5 n-6 8. Agostoni C, Giovannini M, Sala D, Usuelli M, Livio L,
(PUFA)
18:3 n-3 Alpha linolenic (ALA) Francescato G, Braga M, Riva E, Martiello A, Colombo C,
20:5 n-3 EPA 22:5 n-3 DPA Marangoni F, Galli C. Double Blind Placebo J Pediatr
22:6 n-3 DHA Gastroenterol Nutr 2007; 44: 136-42
Total PUFA 9. Risé P, Eligini S, Ghezzi S, Colli S, Galli C.
Unsaturation Index (sum of the % Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2007; 76:363-69
unsaturated fatty acids multiplied by 10. Rise P, Marangoni F, Martiello A, Colombo C, Manzoni
C, Marconi C, Cattabeni F, Galli. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008; 17:
their number of double bonds)
80-85
Total n-6 FA Total n-3 FA 11. Agostoni C, Riva E, Giovannini, M, Pinto F, Colombo C,
INDEXES
n-3/n-6 Ratio Total n-3 HUFA Risé P, Galli C, Marangoni F. Arch Dis Child 2008; 93: 414- 418
(EPA+DPA+DHA) 12. Agostoni C, Marangoni F, Stival G, Gatelli I, Pinto F, Risé
Total n-6 HUFA (20:3 +20:4 +22:4 n- P, Giovannini M, Galli C, and Riva E. Pediatr Res. 2008; 64: 298- FAsTESTTM is a society that applies a new method for
6+22:5 n-6) 302 fatty acids analysis (including Omega3) developed by the
n-3 HUFA n-3 HUFA/(n-3HUFA+n-6 13. Galli C, Risé P, Ghezzi S and Marangoni F. in Simopoulos founders of the Society.
index HUFA)x100 AP and De Meester F (eds) A Balanced Omega-6 / Omega-3
Fatty Acid Ratio, Cholesterol and Coronary Heart Disease.
DHGLA/LA (Delta 6 desaturase) The relevance of dietary Fatty Acids for human health has
World Rev Nutr Diet, Basel, Karger, 2009, Vol 100, pp 35-45
AA/DHGLA (Delta 5 desaturase) a strong scientific support and in the year 2006 has
Metabolic
AA/LA received a "qualified health claim" concerning omega-3
ratios
DHA/EPA DHA/ALA fatty acids, in the area of coronary heart disease by Food
EPA/AA DHA/AA and Drug Administration.
Parco Tecnologico Padano FAsTESTTM operates on the basis of the analytical
Via Einstein,Località Cascina Codazza strategy developed by the founders, that has proved to be a
26900 Lodi - Italy
www.fastest.it faster, cheaper and easier alternative to conventional Fatty
info@fastest.it Acid analysis, facilitating the application to high number
of subjects. Over 12 publications in international journals
of studies based on the method have been produced.
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2. FATTY ACIDS FAMILIES
FATTY ACIDS FAMILIES FATTY ACID GOALS
FATTY ACID GOALS DISEASE PREVENTION
DISEASE PREVENTION
FA, present in all living organisms, generally in esterified The main roles of FA in living organisms are: FAsTEST profiling is in relation to medical strategies
form in complex lipids (triglycerides, phospholipids, and aimed at prevention and treatment of:
cholesterol esters), can be subdivided in:
• Energy Production and metabolism: they are the most
• Saturated fatty Acids (SFA): mainly in animal fats relevant and efficient form of energy storage • Cardiovascular diseases
especially of ruminants. (triglycerides) in the adipose tissue. In addition they are
• Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) with 1 double • Hyperlipemia and hypertriglyceridemia
energy substrates with a high caloric yield, although
bond represented mainly by oleic acid (18:1) present through rather complex metabolic pathways. • Rheumatoid arthritis • Hypertension
especially in olive oil, but also in fats of non ruminant
• Structural: primary components of complex structural • Metabolic syndromes • Prediabetic status
animals, e.g. pork and poultry.
lipids, the phospholipids, which by interacting with
• Polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), containing at least 2 proteins, give rise to cellular and subcellular • Control of body weight • Cancer prevention
double bonds, are more fluid and therefore more membranes. The type of FA and the relative proportions • Skin diseases • Psoriasis
adapted to modulate key cell functions in animal in membranes of specialized cells and structures
species. PUFA cannot be synthesized in animals and are (neurons, retina, myelin, muscle, heart, etc.) contribute • Neurological diseases • Parkinson
therefore defined "Essential Fatty Acids". to their highly differentiated features. • Alzheimer's • Schizophrenia
• Functional: they modulate functional responses • Depressive states • Thrombophilia
PUFA can be subdivided in two series: especially in excitable cells: modulation of receptor
● Omega 6 (or n-6) ● Omega 3 (or n-3) functions and ion channels, production of lipid • Immune diseases
Within these two series FA with 18 C atoms, Linoleic mediators, gene expression, etc.
Acid (LA, 18:2 Omega 6) and alpha linolenic (ALA, 18:3 Particular relevance has the protective effects of Omega 3
Omega 3), are present in the vegetable kingdom where FA on cardiovascular physioloy, as showns be a number
they are produced. Through the food chain they are then A large number of studies have shown that fats (quan-tity of controlled clinical studies.
ingested by herbivores and subsequently by carnivores and especially Various mechanism underly these effecst: from
eating herbivores. Omega 6 and 3 PUFA include FA with quality of FA) are antithrombotic activities, though modulation of products
a higher number of double bonds that are defined Long the major dietary of the eicosanoid cascade, derived from AA and also from
Chain PUFA and are exclusively present in animals. compone-nts EPA and DHA, to antiarrhythmic and antinflammatory
responsible of the activities.
The main LC-PUFA are: in the Omega 6 series health status (more PUFA are also important for an intense physical activity
Arachidonic Acid (AA, 20:4) and in the Omega 3 series than carbohydrates associated with athletic performances, requiring optimal
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA, 20:5) and Docosahexaenoic and proteins). functionality of cardiovascular, muscular and nervous
Acid (DHA, 22:6). Inappropriate FA activities.
levels may lead to
While the Omega 6 FA, especially LA, are very abundant dysfunctions and
Several scientific studies correlate the benefits of Omega
in the diet, and LA can be converted rather efficiently to pathological states,
3 supplementation in neonatal nutrition, where
AA, the Omega 3 EPA and DHA are present in rather low such as
quantitatively adequate intakes of these FA, especially
amounts in conventional diets and in addition the atherosclerosis and
cardiovascular diseases in general, metabolic and DHA, appear to be very important for optimal
formation of EPA and especially DHA from the precursor development of neonates and their mental health.
ALA is not very efficient. hormonal alterations, CNS degenerative diseases, altered
immune responses, cancers, …
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