Omegas, a short course

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Let me attempt to get rid of some of the confusion around Omega 3 LNA and Omega

3 EPA.

First, we need to consider what it is we want Omegas to achieve and that is to

elevate Omega 6 DGLA, Omega 3 EPA and

Omega 3 DHA while lowering Omega 6 AA. This sounds easier than it looks and to

illustrate I present the following Omega

6 conversion mud map:

Omega 6 LA (from green leafy veggies, seeds, veggie oils and nuts)

V

+ D6D enzyme (inhibited by Omega 3 LNA which may be a bad effect)

V

Omega 6 GLA (also from Evening Primrose Oil)

V

+ Elongase enzyme

V

Omega 6 DGLA >>>> Good PGE1 eicosanoid

V

+ D5D enzyme (inhibited by Omega 3 EPA, good)

V

Omega 6 AA (also from red meat and eggs) >>>> Bad PGE2 eicosanoid (also

inhibited by EPA, good!)

From the above you should see that by using too much Omega 3 LNA (and inhibiting

the D6D conversion enzyme), you can dry

up the entire Omega 6 conversion chain and reduce BOTH Omega 6 DGLA (not good!)

and Omega 6 AA (good!).

However by using Omega 3 EPA instead of Omega 3 LNA you inhibit the D5D

conversion enzyme and NOT the D6D conversion

enzyme, allowing Omega 6 LA to convert into Omega 6 GLA (good!) and then into

Omega 6 DGLA (good!). Then the Omega 6

conversion chain is slowed down as Omega 3 EPA inhibits the D5D conversion

enzyme and Omega 6 DGLA builds up (good!)

while Omega 6 AA declines (good!).

Using only Omega 3 LNA from flax can result in reduced Omega 6 DGLA (due to

reduced D6D and thus reduced Omega 6 LA to

Omega 6 GLA then Omega 6 DGLA conversion) and this can be seen as dry skin.

Taking Evening Primrose oil with Omega 6

GLA will help as this way you are bypassing the Omega 3 LNA inhibited D6D

blockage.

You also need to factor in, that reduced D6D enzyme availability (caused by

using Omega 3 LNA) will elevate Omega 6 LA

availability and this may increase cancer risk.

This is not to say Omega 3 LNA is not without use but you need to understand the

above conversion system to understand

why direct dietary EPA & DHA must be part of any attempt to balance Omegas.

I look at Omega 3 LNA as a mildly effective agent in reducing Omega 6 AA but at

a cost of reduced Omega 6 DGLA and

elevated Omega 6 LA. Direct dietary Omega 3 EPA will boost Omega 6 DGLA (by not

inhibiting Omega 6 LA conversion into

Omega 6 GLA then into Omega 6 DGLA) and drop Omega 6 AA (by inhibiting the D5D

enzyme which converts Omega 6 DGLA into

Omega 6 AA) which is something Omega 3 LNA can't, to any real extent, do. Also

direct dietary Omega 3 EPA will help to

reduce blood levels of Omega 6 LA by allowing it's conversion (by the D6D

enzyme) into Omega 6 GLA then into Omega 6

DGLA.

The point here is to understand that you can't equate all Omega 3 as being

somewhat equal. Nothing could be further

from the truth. Omega 3 LNA can do some of the functions that direct dietary

Omega 3 EPA can do but there are things

that direct dietary Omega 3 EPA can do which Omega 3 LNA simply can't.

You need BOTH and you need to control Omega 6 LA to be less than 7 grams per

day.

I hope this example will help you to understand why using Omega 3 LNA is not the

same as using Omega 3 EPA.

========================

Good Health & Long Life,

Greg ,

gowatson@...