Clinical Omega-3 - How it Works

Background

Essential fatty acids (EFA) are required on a daily basis for maintaining optimal health. All edible fatty acids (FA) differ significantly from petroleum oils (such as Vaseline®) by beginning from a carboxyl – acid – group. This acid group is easily attached, via enzyme catalyzed reactions in the mitochondria and adipose tissues, to coenzymes such as coenzyme A. (Coenzyme A is a rather complicated, water soluble necessity, being derived from the vitamin pantothenic acid, adenosine and phosphate.) Once attached to coenzyme A many FA, such as saturated fats, are used for energy. Common, saturated FA are quickly oxidized to water and carbon dioxide via reactions of incredible efficiency - about 70-90% of the energy is turned into ATP and GTP. (The turbines on the Queen Elizabeth cruise at most 40% efficiency.)

Commonly called omega-3, -6, -9 fatty acids (ω-fatty acids); an EFA contains cis-type double bonds numbered from the inactive end, the ω-end of the fatty acid, not the acid end. The FA with trans-type double bonds are found mainly in the common seed oils, breads, cookies, pretzels, etc. and are definitely not considered EFA. While most any mammalian cell can burn FA including EFA, releasing H2O and CO2, human cells would much rather store EFA in cell membranes where they form an integral portion of the living cell walls.

The EFA in membranes are used as molecular signaling agents by cells to indicate trauma and even minor cell injuries to surrounding cells and the circulatory system. When cells are injured EFA are released into both the intracellular matrix and into surrounding circulation. Here EFA are selected by enzymes, such as the currently notorious COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, as starting materials for synthesizing prostaglandins, such as PGE2 and PGE3. Prostaglandins, and the related thromboxanes, are molecular signals which tell other cells to inflame (PGE2) or relax (PGE3). PGE2 signals for immune cell invasion of the affected tissue, blood pressure increase and platelet aggregation while PGE3 signals for increased blood flow, discourages platelet aggregation and encourages tissue repair.

Investigational science has shown that it is the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in our diets and hence our membranes that affects human health. This ratio determines the ratio of inflaming PGE2 to the relaxing PGE3 which will be quickly formed during injury. While PGE2 is necessary to “seal off” the site of injury, for instance during bacterial invasion or invasive and blunt traumas, the high ratio of PGE2 to PGE3 formed in the tissues of folks eating the American, fast-food diet greatly favors a recurrent rapid inflammatory response and constantly shuts down re-establishing circulation to sites of minor injury. Diets higher in ω-3 EFA create more PGE3 at injury sites, hence protecting us from constant inflammation, lowering blood pressure and discouraging clot formation after minor injuries.

It has also been known for decades that diets rich in the ω-9 fatty acid oleic acid (from olive oil, the Mediterranean diet – up to 40% fat!) tend toward low circulating LDL and triglycerides. One cause for this effect has been discovered by people investigating the protection afforded circulating HDL and LDL by oleic acid. HDL is a sub-microscopic particle with a special enzyme on the surface; called paraoxonase (POX), it is responsible for detoxifying peroxides bound to LDL (oxidized LDL). POX itself is protected and re-activated by oleic acid and healthy POX keeps oxidized LDL from binding to arterial walls and degenerating into plaque. So a serious diet consists of both ω-6 and ω-3 EFA, in that 1:1 ratio, with significant amounts of ω-9 EFA. Such a diet is considered anti-inflammatory, eminently practical and has been shown to even reduce discogenic pain¹. This 1:1 ratio has also been labeled the preferred combination of EFA by people studying human behavior, genetics and diet² and is proposed to build strong bones in youth that resist osteoporosis³ and even rheumatoid arthritis⁴.

Nature does not allow humans to biosynthesize many of the ω-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids we need for survival. While the typical western diet provides plenty of fats, EFA must generally come from nutrients grown in water, such as fish. One source rich in EPA and DHA, is the tasty, fatty fishes such as salmon, Artic char and trout. An excellent source of α-linolenic acid is flaxseed oil and a good source of γ-linolenic acid is borage oil. All of these are also rich in the protective, ω-9 FA oleic acid and are provided in convenient combination here.

References

1. Maroon, J.C. and Bost, J.W. (2006). ω-3 Fatty acids (fish oil) as an inflammatory: an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for discogenic pain. Surgical Neurology 65: 326-331.
2. Simopoulos, A.P. (2006). Evolutionary aspects of diet, the omega-6/omega-3 ratio and gene expression in Phytochemicals: Nutrient-Gene Interactions, Meskin, M.S., Bidlack, W.R. and Randolf, R.K. Eds., CRC Press, Taylor and Francis, ISSN: 10-8493-4180-9.
3. Watkins, B.A., Li, Y., Lippman, H.E. and Seifert, M.F. (2001). Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and skeletal health. Exp. Biol. Med. 266: 485-497.
4. Adam, O., et al., (2003). Anti-inflammatory effects of a low arachidonic acid diet and fish oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology International 23: 27-36.
5. Foran, S.E., Flood, J.G. and Lewandrowski, K.B. (2003). Measurement of mercury levels in concentrated over-the-counter fish oil preparations. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 127: 1603-1605.

Supplement Facts - Clinical Omega 3

Quality Assurance Statement - Anabolic Laboratories

Founded in 1924, Anabolic Laboratories formulates and manufactures clinical nutrition products. Our expertise in pharmaceutical manufacturing, patient programs, and clinician training sets the standard for health care professionals.

At Biossential Nutrition, we pride ourselves in offering the best products available to our customers. Offering the highest quality products & individual ingredients, as well as ensuring our products are effective & work as advertised, are the mains goals we strive to achieve with our product offerings.

Why We Recommend Anabolic Laboratories Nutritional Supplements

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Anabolic Laboratories was founded as a nutritional products company in 1924 and became a pharmaceutical manufacturer in 1940. Anabolic Laboratories is one of the oldest manufacturers of nutritional products in the world.

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As a pharmaceutical manufacturing operation, the standards used for raw materials, production and finished product testing exceed the new requirements for nutritional product manufacturing.

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Pharmaceutical standards of manufacturing provide nutritional products with label accuracy, potency and purity as dictated by the USFDA (United States Food & Drug Administration).

Formulas

A nutritional program and clinical formulas that are based on the specifications used in the scientific research.

The Need To Consider Quality:

Of the magnesium supplements tested by ConsumerLab.com, 25% failed to meet quality standards. One magnesium supplement contained only 45.4% of labeled amount, despite boasting a "GMP" (Good Manufacturing Practices) seal on its label, and another supplement provided only 28.8% of the labeled amount.
Reference: ConsumerLab.com, Magnesium Supplement Reviews and Quality Ratings, Posted 5/19/09

Tests by ConsumerLab.com have found multivitamins that were short on ingredients, failed to dissolve properly, or were contaminated with heavy metals.
ConsumerLab.com, New Product Review: Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements, Posted 4/1/09

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that manufacturing problems have been associated with dietary supplements. Products been recalled because of microbiological, pesticide, and heavy metal contamination, and because they do not contain the dietary ingredients they are represented to contain, or they contain more or less than the amount of dietary ingredient claimed on the label.
Reference: June 22, 2007, FDA @ http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dscgmps7.html