Vitamin Trader - Healthy Discounts on Quality Vitamins

A lack of certain fats, essential fatty acids (EFAs), can be detrimental to health. However, you may be a little confused with the terminology involved in a discussion of essential fatty acids, ie. Omega 3, 6, 9 Omega 7, EFA, EPA, DHA, ALA, LA. This is a discussion of the basics of essential fatty acids to help you sort through the confusion!

Every cell in the human body is surrounded by a membrane composed of phospholipids, which is made chiefly from Essential Fatty Acids. The human brain and nervous system are comprised of 60% fat, which is primarily composed of essential fatty acids (mostly EPA, DHA, with some ALA). Essential Fatty Acids are required by the human body for normal growth and development (See chart for many of their roles).

EFAs are essential , meaning that they must be consumed (by diet or supplementation), because the body is not able to manufacture them. Therefore, this is one of your "primary" supplements to be taken along with your "the basics," ie. multivitamin/mineral, greens, and enzymes.

The primary essential fatty acids are Linoleic Acid (LA) from the Omega 6 group and Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) from the Omega 3 group. Proper balance of Omega 6 to 3 is important for health, with the research indicating a healthy range of 3:1 or 4:1 (Omega 6:3). The average American diet consists of an alarming 20:1 to 50:1 ratio, which comes primarily from eating processed foods! This imbalance and excess Omega 6 can lead to degenerative disease due to overproduction of Eicosanoids, or prostaglandins that cause inflammation and bronchial spasms.

Even when the diet includes foods rich in Omega 6 and Omega 3, supplementation may be in order. Why? EPA, DHA, and GLA are manufactured by the body from Omega 6 and 3, but conditions in the body can prevent this from happening adequately. An enzyme called delta-6-saturase is required for the body to manufacture Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) from Omega 6 Linoleic Acid (LA). This same enzyme is required for the body to manufacture Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) from Omega 3 Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA). The body manufactures Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) from EPA.

However, there are many common factors that inhibit the delta-6-saturase enzyme, thus blocking the body's ability to manufacture GLA and EPA/DHA. These factors include: high glucose consumption, adrenaline released during stress, saturated fats, high blood cholesterol, alcohol, glucocorticoids, low protein intake, consumption of trans fatty acids, beta-blockers (ie. Drugs prescribed for hypertension), aging (As early as age 20, there is decreased conversion of GLA), and diabetes. When these factors exist, it may be necessary to supplement GLA, EPA and DHA.

Sea Buckthorn has been used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine for more than 12 centuries. The skin and the mucus membranes that line the digestive and urogenital tracts have the greatest affinity for Omega 7 fatty acids.

Most people will benefit from a healthy diet that:

• is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds
• contains more vegetable protein
• is comprised of 20-35% total fat with reduced saturated and non-essential fat, and increased proportions of omega 3 essential fats (4:1 Omega 6:Omega 3)
• uses Olive or Canola as the primary fat (although the benefits of canola are lost when this oil is heated or used in cooked foods)
• avoids saturated fat by choosing lean over fat meats
• reduces or eliminates trans fats from margarine, vegetable shortening, commercial pastries, fried foods, prepared snacks, mixes and convenience foods.

Sources:
• Rudin, Donald, MD, and Felix, Clara. Omega 3 Oils, 1996.
• Healthy Fats for Life, Karlene Karst & Lorna Vanderhaeghe, 2003
• http://www.fatsforhealth.com/library/libitems/Mind%20Omega3.php, 2005
• Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill, by Udo Erasmus
• http://www.stanford.edu/group/hopes/treatmts/antinflm/i5.html, 2005
• http://www.fi.edu/brain/fats.htm, 2005
• www.mercola.com/article/omega3.htm, 2005