Long-chain monobasic (carboxylic) acids or lipids that occur naturally in the form of glycerides (an ester of glycerol) in fats and fatty oils, and particularly important for the myelination process in early brain development. Some fatty acids are saturated in that each carbon bond is connected to its carbon neighbours by single bonds, while unsaturated fatty acids contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond. It is linolenic acid an omega-3 fatty acid, and an essential or polyunsaturated fatty acid, that is critical for brain development. In addition, it regulates blood pressure. It has, however, to be ingested as it cannot be synthesized by the body.
See Cholesterol, Lipids, Myelination