It is also proposed that a defect in the activities of enzymes Δ6 and Δ5 and desaturases and consequent low plasma and tissue levels of GLA, DGLA, AA, EPA and DHA and their products lipoxins, resolvins, resolvins, protectins, maresins and nitrolipids may play a significant role in the development of insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, the metabolic syndrome and IHD in Europeans and other populations. Here, GLA is linked to metabolic syndrome.