Omegas & Eicosanoids, so what is the problem?

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

 

In an attempt to shed some light on why I believe the Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio

is so important we need to understand

eicosanoids:

 

1) PGE1 (Mostly good guy) - Anti-inflammatory, vasodilative, blocks allergic

response, improves nerve function &

enhances immune function

 

2) PGE2 (Mostly bad guy) - Pro-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive, tissue repair,

platelet aggregation, clot formation,

stimulates allergic response & renin secretion, increases glycogenolysis,

suppresses immune function, inhibits insulin

release, inhibits norepinephrine release from synaptic junction.

 

3) PGE3 (Mostly good guy) - Anti-inflammatory, vasodilative, blocks release of

PG2 inflammatory precursors, enhances

immune function, displaces arachidonic acid, reduces demand for cholesterol

syntheses, stimulates metabolism of fat

stores, activates T lymphocytes, enhances action of insulin, low in diabetics,

coronary heart disease, depression &

alcoholics.

 

4) HPETE (Mostly bad guy) - 1,000x more powerful than PGE's, A's, 1,000 -

10,000x more powerful inflammatory than

histamine (pro-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive, tissue repair, platelet

aggregation, clot formation, stimulates allergic

response, suppresses immune function, stimulates secretion of mucus, airway

constriction)

 

To get more PGE1 & PGE3 production we need EPA, DHA & DGLA as well as ample EPA

to block the production of too much

Arachidonic acid which is the precursor of both PGE2 and HPETE.

 

Here are the mud maps of eicosanoid production.

 

http://www.allocca.com/pathway2.gif

http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/pdf/meta.pdf

18:3n-3, Omega 3

V

+ D6D, inhibited by adrenaline, too much Omega 3,

V blocked by NSAID's, Steroids & alcohol

V

18:4n-3

V

20:4n-3

V

+ D5D, stimulated by insulin, inhibited by

V glucagon & too much EPA

V

20:5n-3, EPA >>> PGE3 (Good Guy)

V

22:5n-3

V

+ D4D

V

22:6n-3, DHA >>> PGE3 (Good Guy)

 

http://www.allocca.com/pathway1.gif

http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/pdf/meta.pdf

18:2n-6 Omega 6

V

+ D6D, inhibited by adrenaline, too much Omega 3,

V blocked by NSAID's, Steroids & alcohol

V

18:3n-6 GLA

V

20:3n-6 DGLA >>> PGE1 (Good Guy)

V

+ D5D, stimulated by insulin, inhibited by

V glucagon & too much EPA

V

20:4n-6 Arachidonic acid

V V V

V V + Cycloxygenase, blocked by NSAID's,

V V V bioflavoids, Ginger, Vit E, EPA, Zinc

V V V

V V PGE2 (Mostly bad guy)

V V

V + Lipoxygenase, blocked by bioflavoids,

V V Ginger, Vit E, EPA, Zinc, Selenium

V V

V HPETE (Mostly bad guy)

V

22:4n-6

 

The goal, to boost EPA, DHA, DGLA levels (PGE1 & PGE3) and inhibit Arachidonic

acid (PGE2 & HPETE).

 

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

Good Health & Long Life,

Greg Watson,

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gowatson

gowatson