omega-6:omega-3 ratios

[Guest guest]

Rodney,

The ratio of omega-6:omega-3 is discussed in the following references.

Simopoulos [2] says " In the secondary prevention of cardiovascular

disease, a ratio of 4/1 was associated with a 70% decrease in total

mortality. A ratio of 2.5/1 reduced rectal cell proliferation in

patients with colorectal cancer " .

Reference [1] says that the AI (adequate intake) of omega-6 is 17 g/d

for young men and 12 g/d for young women, and the AI for omega-3 is

1.6 and 1.1 g/d for men and women, respectively. This is

approximately a 10:1 ratio.

I had been consuming a tablespoon of flax seeds per day, but I have

switched to 1 tablespoon of flax seed oil per day. Flax seed oil has

about 53% omega-3 (ALA).

Tony

[1] Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy,

Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol,

Protein, and Amino Acids (Macronutrients) (2005)

Dietary Fats: Total Fat and Fatty Acids

http://newton.nap.edu/books/0309085373/html/423.html

[2] A.P. Simopoulos, The importance of the ratio of

omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids. Biomed

Pharmacother., 2002 Oct; 56(8):365-79. PMID: 12442909

> >

> > Hi Rodney,

> >

> >

> > I'm not an expert on eicosanoid signalling and how it is effected

> by the

> > balance in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in the cell membrane but those

> in the

> > NIH who created the web site are. I also suggest posting isolated

> papers can

> > be found to support almost any point of view and posting such

> papers do

> > little to support anything more than a personal point of view as,

> with

> > respect, we are not experts in the field.

> >

> > However the creators of the site are eicosanoid signalling experts,

> > have looked at all the papers, have created some of the papers

> themselves

> > and have attempted to put it all together in a such a way that

> intelligent

> > lay folks can understand what balancing eicosanoid production is

> all about

> > I suggest these to review:

> >

> > http://efaeducation.nih.gov/sig/annotated2.html

> > http://efaeducation.nih.gov/sig/relatedw.html

> > http://efaeducation.nih.gov/sig/video.html

> > http://efaeducation.nih.gov/sig/overview1.html

> > http://efaeducation.nih.gov/sig/workshop1.html

> >

> > Greg

>