Prostaglandins: The Good and the Bad

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Prostaglandins: The Good and the Bad JoAnn Guest

Dec 02, 2002 11:42 PST

" JoAnn Guest " <angelpri-;

Mon Nov 11, 2002 8:54 pm

Prostaglandins- The Good and the Bad

 

 

Prostaglandins

The Good and Bad

 

Too much prostaglandin E2 can lead to degenerative disease, whereas

high levels of beneficial pros-taglandin E1 and E3 protect the body.

 

Here is a brief description of how these prostaglandins function in

the body:

 

• Prostaglandin E1 prevents blood platelets from sticking together,

thereby helping to prevent heart attacks and strokes caused by blood

clots.

 

It relaxes blood vessels, improving circulation and lowering

blood pressure.

 

It reduces inflammation, makes insulin work more

effectively and enhances the T-cell function of the immune system.

 

GLA increases this beneficial prostaglandin.

 

• Prostaglandin E2 promotes-- platelet aggregation,

the first step to clot formation, increasing the risk for heart

attack and stroke. It makes the

kidneys retain sodium, leading to water retention, and it causes

inflammation. Diets high in saturated fats (arachidonic acid)

increase levels of this pro-inflammatory prostaglandin.

 

• Prostaglandin E3-- has similar functions as prostaglandin E1.

 

It also has a powerful effect of preventing the release of

arachidonic

acid stored in cell membranes and its conversion to prostaglandin E2.

Omega-3 fatty acids are the source of this beneficial prostaglandin.

 

The first step in both these conversion processes is controlled by

the enzyme D6D

(delta-6 desaturase).

 

Unfortunately, D6D activity declines

with age, and is reduced in some individuals even at a younger age

(Horrobin, 1981). This not only inhibits the synthesis of GLA and

DHA,

but also leads to a prostaglandin imbalance with decline of the good

series-1 and series-3 prostaglandins and other beneficial

eicosanoids,

which exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects.

 

The reduced capacity to convert parent EFAs to GLA and DHA is

associated with conditions including cardiovascular disease,

diabetes,

alcoholism, atopic dermatitis, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid

arthritis and cancer (Bolton-Smith et al., 1997; Leventhal et al.,

1993;

Horrobin, 1993), as well as learning deficits and development of

dementia.

 

 

JoAnn Guest

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