DHA

[Guest guest]

I was wondering about the herb milk thistle and DHA. Someone had mentioned them on a post I read this week but I was focusing on other things at the time. What dose does everyone take or is it prescribed? Is there a better company brand of them or will any work. I am somewhat familiar with milk thistle helping to heal the liver. I understand that there is no difinate thing that works for all. It just seemed a lot were on these two supplements and I would love some education. Thanks again

Pamela ('s wife)

[Guest guest]

Hi Pamela;

I'll try to answer your DHA question, and will let someone else

tackle the milk thistle issue. DHA is docosahexaenoic acid, a

component of fish oils (along with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)). Both

EPA and DHA are omega-3 fatty acids, and are widely acknowledged to

be anti-inflammatory. The deficiency of omega-3 fatty acid in today's

Western diet may be one of the main factors contributing to the

marked increase in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in the West

in recent decades. A major polyunsaturated fatty acid in today's

Western diet is an omega-6 fatty acid called arachidonic acid.

Arachidonic acid gives rises to a number of pro-inflammatory

compounds. By ingesting omega-3 fatty acids rich in EPA and DHA,

these replace arachidonic acid in cell membranes, and therefore limit

the amount of pro-inflammatory molecules that are produced. Both EPA

and DHA are themselves metabolized to potent anti-inflammatory

molecules called resolvins and protectins that help in the resolution

of inflammation, and protection from inflammation. There is evidence

that EPA and DHA may help protect against inflammatory bowel disease

and colon cancer.

The liver disease of PSC resembles the liver disease of cystic

fibrosis. Animal models of cystic fibrosis have shown that when the

cystic fibrosis gene is knocked out in mice, and the mice are given

colitis, the mice develop bile-duct injury resembling PSC. When these

mice are given DHA, the mice seem to be protected against bile-duct

injury. This is the basis for the current clinical trial of DHA in

PSC. But no results have been published yet.

DHA may be activating a receptor in the liver, called the retinoid X

receptor alpha (RXRa), that then allows more effective bile transport

and metabolism. RXRa is required for the function of many other

receptors in the liver, including many receptors that control the

expression of bile transport proteins, enzymes of bile acid

metabolism, lipid metabolism, and vitamin D function.

Our son takes Super omega-3 capsules (2 x 1000 mg per day) from

Carlson Labs, hoping to get the dual benefits of EPA and DHA in

slowing down inflammation associated with ulcerative colits,

protection against colon cancer, and delaying or preventing bile duct

injury associated with PSC.

The only concern would be that fish oils tend to increase INR, and so

you should be careful about taking this supplement if liver disease

is advanced and risk of bleeding is high. I have also read recently

of a potential adverse interaction between fish oils and warfarin in

terms of increasing INR. So you should always talk to your doctor

before taking any supplement.

Best regards,

Dave

(father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)

[Guest guest]

,

Wow!! What a wealth of information you are. Thank you so much for your explanation. I will have to keep rereading it to understand it fully but I do understand the basics of what you said. It's interesting that not even 2 weeks ago I decided perhaps we should get more omega-3 in our diet. I will check with 's doctor. Thank you again.

Pamela

-- Re: DHA

Hi Pamela;I'll try to answer your DHA question, and will let someone else tackle the milk thistle issue. DHA is docosahexaenoic acid, a component of fish oils (along with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)). Both EPA and DHA are omega-3 fatty acids, and are widely acknowledged to be anti-inflammatory. The deficiency of omega-3 fatty acid in today's Western diet may be one of the main factors contributing to the marked increase in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in the West in recent decades. A major polyunsaturated fatty acid in today's Western diet is an omega-6 fatty acid called arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid gives rises to a number of pro-inflammatory compounds. By ingesting omega-3 fatty acids rich in EPA and DHA, these replace arachidonic acid in cell membranes, and therefore limit the amount of pro-inflammatory molecules that are produced. Both EPA and DHA are themselves metabolized to potent anti-inflammatory molecules called resolvins and protectins that help in the resolution of inflammation, and protection from inflammation. There is evidence that EPA and DHA may help protect against inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.The liver disease of PSC resembles the liver disease of cystic fibrosis. Animal models of cystic fibrosis have shown that when the cystic fibrosis gene is knocked out in mice, and the mice are given colitis, the mice develop bile-duct injury resembling PSC. When these mice are given DHA, the mice seem to be protected against bile-duct injury. This is the basis for the current clinical trial of DHA in PSC. But no results have been published yet. DHA may be activating a receptor in the liver, called the retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRa), that then allows more effective bile transport and metabolism. RXRa is required for the function of many other receptors in the liver, including many receptors that control the expression of bile transport proteins, enzymes of bile acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and vitamin D function. Our son takes Super omega-3 capsules (2 x 1000 mg per day) from Carlson Labs, hoping to get the dual benefits of EPA and DHA in slowing down inflammation associated with ulcerative colits, protection against colon cancer, and delaying or preventing bile duct injury associated with PSC.The only concern would be that fish oils tend to increase INR, and so you should be careful about taking this supplement if liver disease is advanced and risk of bleeding is high. I have also read recently of a potential adverse interaction between fish oils and warfarin in terms of increasing INR. So you should always talk to your doctor before taking any supplement. Best regards,Dave (father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)