info on the omegas please

[hom]

Hi there, could someone differentiate between omega 3, 6 and 9 for me please? I'm confused because I thought they were all 'good' as they're often all included in many of the supplements that you can buy, but recently I've read that you wouldn't really want to increase the amount of omega 6 you take (?). I'm sure it's complicated but any bits of info would be helpful.
Many thanks. Hom

[CarolineN]

Originally Posted by hom

Hi there, could someone differentiate between omega 3, 6 and 9 for me please? I'm confused because I thought they were all 'good' as they're often all included in many of the supplements that you can buy, but recently I've read that you wouldn't really want to increase the amount of omega 6 you take (?). I'm sure it's complicated but any bits of info would be helpful.
Many thanks. Hom

Hi Hom

I'll have to be brief as I'm away for a few days. It' a complicated biochemical system. Basically omega-3 comes from oily fish and omega 6 and 9 come from plants though some O-3 is available in flaxseed, but you need to be able to convert it into a usable form and intake needs to be considerably higher. O-3 and 6 are 'essential' - that is they must be eaten as the body cannot make them from other oils and are an essential component of brain cells, every cell wall in the body and for immune function. They need to exist in balance - 1:2 - but because we use so many oils for cooking now (sunflower, rapeseed, nuts, safflower etc are all O-6) that the balance is more often 1:20 that encourage the pathway of proinflammatory cytokines (if my memory serves me correct). A 1:4 balance is considered acceptable, but as most of us are consuming too much O-6 we end up with hidden inflammation - often shown up in the arteries and gut. Arterial inflammation lads to increased production of cholesterol by the liver to plaster over the inflammation, and in turn becomes oxidised causing further inflammation and so on causing a build-up of plaque in the arteries. Sugar causes this too. In the gut one can end up with IBS. This is not the only cause but oe of them. O-9 is available in olive oil and is not essential but very beneficial.

To find out the fascinating story read Udo Erasmus's Fats that Heal Fats that Kill - excellent book.

Hope that helps.

[Finalshine]

How interesting, I knew none of this, gods know what they teach kids nowadays

[hom]

It's frightening what we don't know isn't it!! Thanks Caroline- I know I'm being a bit slow here- and I've only read your post quickly at the moment and will look at the link- but I'm still not sure why O-6 is included in my supplement.....Haven't we mostly got too much of it anyway....? Hom

[CarolineN]

First of all apologies for the typos in my previous post - didn't check ! Anyway, back again briefly.

Oils can be classified as saturated (mostly found in meats and are solid at room temperature) and unsaturated oils. Monounsaturated, Omega-9, is mostly found in olive oil and found to lower LDL cholesterol, and polyunsaturated which includes the Essential O-6 and O-3 oils - and to confuse things more these oils can be found in many different forms in the chain - some of which are more bio-available (eg EPA and GLA).

Omega-6 may be included in your supplement because it is essential and for the supplement to be balanced and complete it will be there - the compounders are not responsible for what the client eats in the way of food. The best omega-6 is found in evening primrose oil, starflower and blaccurrant seed oil.

Some women to need more of a particular kind of O-6 in the form of GLA because their bodies have problems converting linoleic acid into gamma-linolenic acid and this results iin the production of the proinflammatory and pain-causing prostaglandin PGE2 causing among other things, period pains. As I said it is very complex! It's all a question of balance and a full range of needed co-factors to help keep the body functioning satisfactorily. Dairy foods can also encourage the production of PGE2, as can stress, too much sugar, lack of vitamin B6, magnesium and zinc..

I need to re-read the book above!

[hom]

Thanks Caroline,
I think I'm doing what my patients do, trying to simplify something that's essentially rather complex! (I find it rather annoying!!). Anyway, thanks for your posts and they're helpful..I'll look into it more I think,as well. Hom