Dated post (from Ireland) re: fish oils & IgAN

[Guest guest]

I have a particular interest in Omega oils as I use them in the

treatment of an inflammatory kidney disease, which my sons

Age 13 and 16 and I have, its called IgA Nephropathy (IgAN)

along with Celiac Disease (CD) and Dermatitis Herpetiformes (DH)

IgAN is a Circulating Immune-Complex Mediated Disease.

Also known as a Type of hypersensitivity or allergy.

I thought you and others on the list might be interested in some of

the information I have collected, it is importance to get the balance

of Omega-3 to Omega-6 right if you are going to take it to reduce

inflammation.

This information might make you think twice about using to much

Omega-6 in your diet. Research into disease, shows that a higher

serum level of Omega-6 fatty acids may in fact be very bad for you.

Omega-3 ( n-3 ) Not Omega-6 ( n-6 )

Is now being used in the treatment of Inflammatory Disease, Heart

Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Ulcerative Colitis,

IgA Nephropathy ( kidney disease ), Epilepsy and Behcet's Disease

and Others with some success, research is still ongoing.

Studies in progress include a larger, long-term studty in lupus nephritis

and dosing studies in diabetic nephropathy and hemodialysis.

There are 2 main Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's):

Omega-6 and Omega-3.

These EFA's cannot be interconverted.

That is, Omega-6 cannot be made into Omega-3

And Omega-3 cannot be made into Omega-6.

Therefore we need both Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs in our diet.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils are two essential fatty acids that

together: --form the membrane of every one of the billions of cells in

our bodies; --control the way cholesterol works in our system; --make

up a very large part of the brain's active tissue; --are the only fats

that become prostaglandins which play key roles in regulating the

cardiovascular, immune, digestive, and reproductive functions;

inflammation and healing; functioning of the brain; and body heat and

calorie burning (weight loss).

(This information is from the Canadian Grain Commission Crop Bulletin

No. 182, ISSN 0836, and The Flax Council of Canada:)

LNA Deficiency:

Some of the problems of deficiency are:

Growth retardation, Weakness, Fatigue, Impaired vision, learning ability

Motor incoordination,Tingling sensations in arms and legs and

Behavioral changes.

Symptoms that respond remarkably well to LNA supplementation

High triglycerides (fat) in the blood, High blood pressure, Sticky

platelets, Tissue inflammation, Edema, Dry skin, Mental

deterioration, Low metabolic rate and some kinds of immune

dysfunction.

All Hydrogenated products should be stopped, while using EFA.

No other oil is needed as the body makes all the other's

ie Lauric and Oleic etc from the Omega 3 and 6 oils.

It is only in the last 20 years, that we have come to understand that

dietary EFAs are so important to our health.. Researchers now believe

that the increasing rates of Heart Disease, Alcoholism, Depression,

Hypertension, ( to name but a few ) seen in America and Europe

over the last 100 years, may, in part, be due to a significant shift in

the ratio of:

Omega-6 (arachidonic acid, linoleic acid) fatty acids

TO

Omega-3(docosahexaenoic acid, linolenic acid) fatty acids in our diet.

Other names.

1) Omega-3 fat is also known as alpha-linolenic acid or n-3.

The Omega-3 fatty acids are:

Linolenic, eicosapentaenoic - EPA

Docosahexaenoic acids - DHA

2) Omega-6 fat is also known as alpha- linoleic acid or n-6

( Linoleic acid (LA) is the major essential fatty acid.)

The body converts linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid: GLA.

The human race evolved on a diet having a ratio of about 1:1

of these acids.

The ratio of Omega 6 ( linoleic acid ) to Omega 3 (alpha-linolenic

acid ) is now between 10:1 and 25:1. The recommended level is 5:1.

People who are treating an inflammatory disease with EFA's

Acording to research, should take a much higher dose of

Omega-3 to Omega-6.

A ratio of perhaps 5:1 infavour of Omega 3.

We are taking 12 grams of Omega-3 a day in the treatment of our

kidney disease, some other's are taking up to 18 grams in the

treatment of their inflammatory problems. This should not be

undertaken without a doctors approvel.

Researchers speculate that coronary heart disease is strongly

associated with a low intake of Omega-3 fatty acids.

They discovered that men with coronary heart disease

tended to have a higher serum level of Omega-6 fatty acids.

Omega-6 (Linoleic acid )is the major PUFA in most seed,

vegetable oils and sunflower oil.

This is converted to Arachidonic Acid within our body.

Borage oil is a source high in polyunsaturated fatty acids

(PUFA) .ie. Omega-6. So is evening primrose oil.

Borage oil is particularly rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).

It also has 25% more GLA than evening primrose oil.

It is not difficult to maintain a diet high in Omega-6 fatty acids.

Some experts consider that we have a diet which is already to high.

Omega-6 linoleic acid is in vegetable seed oils (safflower oil, sunflower

oil, corn oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, almond oil, and olive oil), and

commercial spreads which are labeled polyunsaturated. I don't think we

have to be concerned about a lack of n-6 in our diet.

On the other hand, Omega-3 supplementation has been implicated

in the lowering of lipid levels and a reduction in atherosclerotic

vascular events in man. Fish oil, and its principal constituents,

eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) possess

both anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic properties. These

omega-3 fatty acids inhibit inflammatory prostaglandin and leukotriene

production by displacing the arachidonic acid ( found in Omega-6 )

substrate from cell membranes and compete with the arachidonic acid

for cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes. This competition results

in a shift towards the production of non-inflammatory series-3

prostaglandins and series-5 leukotrienes. Which lowers inflammation,

throughout the body including, in our case the Kidneys. It seems to me

that a diet high in Omega-3 and low in Omega-6 is perhaps the right

approach.

2. Food sources of omega-3 FA include canola and soybean oils,

flaxseed, fatty fish (such as herring, mackerel, salmon and trout),

fish oils and fish oil concentrates, flaxseed, provide an alternative

dietary source of omega-3

Being highly unsaturated, omega-3 fatty acids are susceptible to

peroxidation but adequate vitamin E intake might prevent oxidative

changes. Food sources of vitamin E are, vegetable oils and almonds. In

other words a small amount of Omega-6

If one were to take flaxseed ( which has the richest natural source of

lignans) in place of Fish Oils one would not have to worry about the

Vit E, as Lignans are believed to posess anti-oxidative properties

and would thus inhibit lipid peroxidation as well as retard

oxidation-induced inflammatory responses.

On the issue of fishoils V flaxoil, in terms of the serum levels

of the beneficial ingredients.

It apparently matters little which you take to attain these

levels. For instance one can take flax seed oil but the dose required

to attain the same seerum levels is about three times that of fish

oil.

Bits of the information, I have, which may be of interest.

Health News Naturally is copyright1996 by Keats Publishing, Inc.

Osteoporosis affects both men and women. Although we normally

think of osteoporosis as a women's disease, one in four hip fractures

occur in men. The following thus applies to both men and women.

Dietary calcium has one of two fates. Either it is absorbed into

the bloodstream for potential utilization by bone, or it is

excreted in feces. Fecal excretion of dietary calcium runs a wide

range from 20 to 80 percent of ingested calcium. Obviously, the

more calcium that moves out of the GI tract into the blood-stream,

the more beneficial the effect. When calcium is absorbed into the

blood it again has one of two fates. Either it is deposited in

bone, or it is excreted by kidneys and urination. Here, both

Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent osteoporosis each in a

different way.

Omega-6 fatty acids (GLA) seem to improve calcium absorption from

the gastrointestinal tract. This is the first important step in

ensuring strong bones. Calcium needs to be absorbed from dietary

calcium in the GI tract into the bloodstream for it to be

accessible in building strong bones. On the other hand, arachidonic

acid (AA), an essential fatty acid derived only from meat and dairy

fats, speeds up urinary calcium excretion. Omega-3 EFAs, mainly

from fish oils, are antagonistic to arachidonic acid and

metabolites made from arachidonic acid. It is therefore no surprise

that the Omega-3 EFAs prevent calcium excretion, thus insuring

strong bones.

Flax or Fish oil in the diet promotes health

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA. A high intake of fish oils, notably

eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is beneficial in the fight against

heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and

ulcerative colitis. Now researchers at the Royal Adelaide Hospital

have discovered that the blood and cell membrane content of EPA can

be markedly increased by consuming a diet high in alpha- linolenic

acid ( Omega-3 ) and low in linoleic acid ( Omega-6 )

Fatty acids influence immune system

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. It is generally accepted that a low-fat diet

which is low in saturated fats and high in polyunsaturated fats is

healthy and lowers the risk of heart disease. Now researchers at

the University of Copenhagen Warn that certain polyunsaturated

fatty acids (PUFAs) (Omega 6 ) may have a detrimental effect on the

immune system especially among older people. The researchers

concluded that a diet high in omega- 6 PUFAs, especially linoleic

acid, impair immune system function.

They found no detrimental effects of omega-3 fatty acids

such as alpha-linolenic acid (found in flax oil). The researchers

speculate that prostaglandin E2, which is produced from omega-6

PUFAs, is the link between the decreased immune function response

and dietary fat type. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol.

59, March 1994, pp. 572-77

Omega-3 fatty acids help protect against heart disease

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. Researchers at the Veterans Affairs

Medical Center report that docosapentaenoic acid and

docosahexaenoic acid (a main component of fish oil) provide

significant protection against the development of coronary heart

disease (CHD). Their study involved over 6,000 middle-aged men.

Came across this on the very-low-fat FAQ page.

http://www.fatfree.com/FAQ/fatfree-faq

Grams of Omega -3 - fatty acid in 100 grams of oil.

cod-liver-oil 19.2

herring-oil 14.00

menhaden oil 21.7

concentrated fish oil 29.4

salmon-oil 20.1

Flax-seed-oil 53.3

Stress and the protein/fat connection:

Behcet's Disease: Immune Process and the Potential Impact of

Nutritional Supplementation

http://www.macalester.edu/~bmagocsi/behcet/shapiro-article.html

Dealing with stress in a positive way has everything to do with the

protein/fat connection. Our life energy flows within this union. As we

go into stressful situations, our need for balanced protein/EFA

nutrients increase. And to metabolize them, our need for the other

essential nutrients increases also. In our busy, fast moving society,

stress comes from many directions. Our bodies are uniquely designed to

deal with large amounts of stress, and normally maintains a reservoir

of potential energy for such times. In dealing with prolonged, high

stress situations, however, sometimes that reserve of energy runs out.

During such times, we may look in all the wrong places to find answers

for our inability to cope and should be looking inside ourselves

rather than outside ourselves for answers. It just never occurs to us

that the symptoms may be caused by an internal chemical imbalance. As

I stated at the beginning of this page, most of us already get plenty

of protein. But we do have a great need to get our requirement of

essential fatty acids. There practical ways of obtaining and using

those EFAs we must have.

http://www.scdiet.org/7archives/scd010_6.html