Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that humans must ingest because the body requires them for good health. Aside from being used as energy, EFA's are important to human health because they have valuable cell membrane function (Lord and Bralley:2008), assist hormones and nerves, and reduces inflammation (Calder:2009). There has also been research to suggest that EFA's can assist in depression (Logan AC: 2004) (Rees et al.:2005)
Calder PC. (2009). PUFAs and inflammatory processes: New twists in an old tale. Biochimie 91, 6, 791- 795.
Logan AC (2004). Omega-3 fatty acids and major depression: a primer for the mental health professional. Lipids in Health and Disease 3 (1): 25.
Lord R, Bralley J. (2008). "Fatty Acids" in R Lord and J Bralley (2008). Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine. 2nd Ed. Georgia. Metametrix Institute.
Rees AM, Austin MP, Parker G. (2005). Role of omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for depression in the perinatal period. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 39 (4): 274–80.