Guest guest Posted February 23, 2003 Report Share Posted February 23, 2003 Studies show humans can only convert 1-4% of ALA to end-chain fatty acids like DHA and EPA. BUT, most Americans (the ones being studied) consume 20:1 to 50:1 ratios of n-6:n-3 FA. Isn't it possible that the reason the conversion rates are so low is because all the n-6s are hogging the delta-6-desaturase enzymes? So wouldn't that mean that if someone consumed, say, 20 times less n-6s their conversion rates would be proportionally higher, maybe up to 20% or so, maybe more? So maybe it is reasonable for humans to use flax oil IF their intake of n-6s are tamed down enough? Wouldn't it therefore follow that a hen that is *pastured* would have a MUCH higher conversion rate for the same reasons, and therfore might have high DHA due to flax feeding? Maybe a low-grain diet rich in grass and kitchen scraps would make supplementing hens with flax worthwhile? Any thoughts? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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