Guest guest Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 , Thanks for the link to this article. I'm glad to see Freedman et al. continuing their DHA studies, especially looking more closely at carriers. Despite Bob Beall's " dire " warnings, many of us have been supplementing with DHA since Freedman and Alvarez first announced their findings at the North American CF conference in Seattle a few years ago. I started taking it at the same time I started my son on it. I notice a huge difference whenever I run out of DHA -- and I'm only a CF carrier, so imagine the importance for someone with CF. I wish Bob Beall (and others) would clarify their concerns better whenever they issue " warnings " about people self-supplementing DHA. The risk comes when people try to increase DHA by using any old fish oil supplement. You have to read labels closely to be sure you're buying a product that has no AA in it. Many fish oil supplements list AA, EPA, and DHA on the ingredient label -- with DHA always being the lowest amount. Another concern is that an essential fatty acid supplement (or omega 3 supplement, whatever the company calls it on their label) that is created from fish oils might contain a concentrated amount of mercury from the fish. Of course, there are quality, safe supplements out there that are pure DHA or a combo DHA and EPA, but it's important to do your homework. If anyone wants to learn more, reading Martek's web site is a great start. Martek manufactures the DHA that Freedman and Alvarez used in the initial studies a few years ago. I'm not trying to advertise for GNC, but we buy their DHA because it's the most affordable for our budget and GNC uses Martek's DHA. There are many companies that buy DHA from Martek and market it under their own label, but again, you have to read labels because sometimes these companies will add another oil to it to prevent the product from becoming rancid -- and these other oils generally have AA or EPA essential fatty acids in them, which is what you don't want. Gould and others on the Sharktank list really did their homework on this a few years ago, writing to companies to get their full chemical ingredient list -- the ingredients you DON'T see on the label. always gave her son Martek's DHA, which she'd buy directly from Martek, even though it's so expensive. If you have your doctor or chiropractor set up an account, you can get a discounted price. Again, this is probably credited directly to Gould's determination and diligence. Kim > This is an article that may be of interest to those of you struggling with > the sinus issues. My son is four and has what his dr likes to call " unique " > sinuses. He had his first surgery at the age of six months and one to three > every year since. > > Keslar mom to 4wcf and Brenna 8wocf > > http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-a63674253feb17,0,6302733.story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2004 Report Share Posted February 18, 2004 and these other oils generally have AA or EPA essential fatty acids in them, which is what you don't want. Kim, are you saying that the supplement should just be DHA? I know you don't want AA but I didn't realize it should not have EPA as well. I could not find the Martek website, how much DHA is in your supplements? I just found one that my daughter loves and I want to make sure it's a good one Thanks, Mom to Ellie 15mo wCF and Jack 3 1/2yrs noCF (but a carrier) Re: Of great interest , Thanks for the link to this article. I'm glad to see Freedman et al. continuing their DHA studies, especially looking more closely at carriers. Despite Bob Beall's " dire " warnings, many of us have been supplementing with DHA since Freedman and Alvarez first announced their findings at the North American CF conference in Seattle a few years ago. I started taking it at the same time I started my son on it. I notice a huge difference whenever I run out of DHA -- and I'm only a CF carrier, so imagine the importance for someone with CF. I wish Bob Beall (and others) would clarify their concerns better whenever they issue " warnings " about people self-supplementing DHA. The risk comes when people try to increase DHA by using any old fish oil supplement. You have to read labels closely to be sure you're buying a product that has no AA in it. Many fish oil supplements list AA, EPA, and DHA on the ingredient label -- with DHA always being the lowest amount. Another concern is that an essential fatty acid supplement (or omega 3 supplement, whatever the company calls it on their label) that is created from fish oils might contain a concentrated amount of mercury from the fish. Of course, there are quality, safe supplements out there that are pure DHA or a combo DHA and EPA, but it's important to do your homework. If anyone wants to learn more, reading Martek's web site is a great start. Martek manufactures the DHA that Freedman and Alvarez used in the initial studies a few years ago. I'm not trying to advertise for GNC, but we buy their DHA because it's the most affordable for our budget and GNC uses Martek's DHA. There are many companies that buy DHA from Martek and market it under their own label, but again, you have to read labels because sometimes these companies will add another oil to it to prevent the product from becoming rancid -- Gould and others on the Sharktank list really did their homework on this a few years ago, writing to companies to get their full chemical ingredient list -- the ingredients you DON'T see on the label. always gave her son Martek's DHA, which she'd buy directly from Martek, even though it's so expensive. If you have your doctor or chiropractor set up an account, you can get a discounted price. Again, this is probably credited directly to Gould's determination and diligence. Kim > This is an article that may be of interest to those of you struggling with > the sinus issues. My son is four and has what his dr likes to call " unique " > sinuses. He had his first surgery at the age of six months and one to three > every year since. > > Keslar mom to 4wcf and Brenna 8wocf > > http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-a63674253feb17,0,6302733.story ------------------------------------------- The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO WAY be construed as medical advice. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR TREATMENTS. ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 , Second graders stole my brain today so my memory is hazy on the omega thing... BUT I'm pretty certain that EPA is an omega 3, which is good. However, the problem is that people with CF (and some other metabolic- type diseases), lack an enzyme (NOT a digestive enzyme found in your own pancreas or made by Creon, Pacrease, Ultrase, etc.!) that converts EPA to DHA in the body. So that's why pwcf are lower in DHA. So the thought is that supplementing as much DHA as possible, without muddying the waters with EPA (since it won't convert due to the lacking enzyme) is best. (Anyone ever wonder how many parenthesis I can use in one flippin' post?) and I use GNC's combo DHA/EPA. Each liqui-gel cap contains 250 mg. DHA and 100 mg. EPA. This works for me, and if bothered to take more, we might see a difference in his PFTs, who knows? I just feel better that he's willing to take this added " insurance " to gaurd his health. And we HAVE noticed that when his inflammation begins to rise, that if he quickly corrects diet to contain more omega 3's and sulfur, then he quickly squelches inflammation. (This goes for intestinal inflammation not just lung and sinus inflammation too.) Oops... there's another parenthesis... At times, I've purchased GNC's pure DHA. It contains only 100 mg. DHA in each liqui-gel capsule, so it's not as economical for me because I'd have to take 2.5 gel caps to equal what I get in the other type. And we know it's impossible to cut liqui-gels, so when I take that type, I only take two, and it's just not enough for me (since two equals 200 mg.). I guess what I'm suggesting is: 1) buy the best you can afford, 2) never buy one that lists AA on the label, 3) if you buy a DHA/EPA combo, then be sure the DHA is greater than the EPA. And read the " other ingredients " portion closely. They'll sneak in sunflower or soybean oil, which is dumb since it's AA, but I guess since it's a negligible amount (used for it's antioxidant vitamin E properties) they think it's okay. But we try to avoid all oils accept olive and canola. Kim > > This is an article that may be of interest to those of you struggling > with > > the sinus issues. My son is four and has what his dr likes to call > " unique " > > sinuses. He had his first surgery at the age of six months and one to > three > > every year since. > > > > Keslar mom to 4wcf and Brenna 8wocf > > > > http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny- a63674253feb17,0,6302733.story > > > > > ------------------------------------------- > The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO WAY > be construed as medical advice. > > PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR > TREATMENTS. > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 delta 5 or 6 desaturase is the enzyme monique Re: Of great interest > , > > Second graders stole my brain today so my memory is hazy on the omega > thing... BUT I'm pretty certain that EPA is an omega 3, which is > good. > > However, the problem is that people with CF (and some other metabolic- > type diseases), lack an enzyme (NOT a digestive enzyme found in your > own pancreas or made by Creon, Pacrease, Ultrase, etc.!) that > converts EPA to DHA in the body. So that's why pwcf are lower in DHA. > > So the thought is that supplementing as much DHA as possible, without > muddying the waters with EPA (since it won't convert due to the > lacking enzyme) is best. > > (Anyone ever wonder how many parenthesis I can use in one flippin' > post?) > > and I use GNC's combo DHA/EPA. Each liqui-gel cap contains 250 > mg. DHA and 100 mg. EPA. This works for me, and if bothered to > take more, we might see a difference in his PFTs, who knows? I just > feel better that he's willing to take this added " insurance " to gaurd > his health. > > And we HAVE noticed that when his inflammation begins to rise, that > if he quickly corrects diet to contain more omega 3's and sulfur, > then he quickly squelches inflammation. (This goes for intestinal > inflammation not just lung and sinus inflammation too.) > > Oops... there's another parenthesis... > > At times, I've purchased GNC's pure DHA. It contains only 100 mg. DHA > in each liqui-gel capsule, so it's not as economical for me because > I'd have to take 2.5 gel caps to equal what I get in the other type. > And we know it's impossible to cut liqui-gels, so when I take that > type, I only take two, and it's just not enough for me (since two > equals 200 mg.). > > I guess what I'm suggesting is: 1) buy the best you can afford, 2) > never buy one that lists AA on the label, 3) if you buy a DHA/EPA > combo, then be sure the DHA is greater than the EPA. > > And read the " other ingredients " portion closely. They'll sneak in > sunflower or soybean oil, which is dumb since it's AA, but I guess > since it's a negligible amount (used for it's antioxidant vitamin E > properties) they think it's okay. But we try to avoid all oils accept > olive and canola. > > Kim > > > > > This is an article that may be of interest to those of you > struggling > > with > > > the sinus issues. My son is four and has what his dr likes to call > > " unique " > > > sinuses. He had his first surgery at the age of six months and > one to > > three > > > every year since. > > > > > > Keslar mom to 4wcf and Brenna 8wocf > > > > > > http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny- > a63674253feb17,0,6302733.story > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------- > > The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO > WAY > > be construed as medical advice. > > > > PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR > > TREATMENTS. > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 You're welcome, ... and I promise this weekend I'll get to your other email and all the email that has piled from others in my mail box! Kim > > > This is an article that may be of interest to those of you > struggling > > with > > > the sinus issues. My son is four and has what his dr likes to call > > " unique " > > > sinuses. He had his first surgery at the age of six months and > one to > > three > > > every year since. > > > > > > Keslar mom to 4wcf and Brenna 8wocf > > > > > > http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny- > a63674253feb17,0,6302733.story > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------- > > The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO > WAY > > be construed as medical advice. > > > > PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR > > TREATMENTS. > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 Take your time, I appreciate the help and we're in no hurry. Re: Of great interest You're welcome, ... and I promise this weekend I'll get to your other email and all the email that has piled from others in my mail box! Kim > > > This is an article that may be of interest to those of you > struggling > > with > > > the sinus issues. My son is four and has what his dr likes to call > > " unique " > > > sinuses. He had his first surgery at the age of six months and > one to > > three > > > every year since. > > > > > > Keslar mom to 4wcf and Brenna 8wocf > > > > > > http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny- > a63674253feb17,0,6302733.story > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------- > > The opinions and information exchanged on this list should IN NO > WAY > > be construed as medical advice. > > > > PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATIONS OR > > TREATMENTS. > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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