Anti-inflammatory Potential of Essential Fatty Acids

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Anti-inflammatory Potential of Essential Fatty Acids

in UC,IBS & Crohn's_

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From " Omega-3 Oils, "

by Donald Rudin, MD and Clara Felix, page 67.

 

In a recent study, doctors in Bologna and Turin, Italy, gave fish-

oil capsules three times a day for one year to thirty-nine Crohn's

patients for about eight months.

A similar control group of thirty-nine patients received capsules

that contained

neutral oils. The fish-oil capsules were specially formulated to

reduce fishy odor and to improve absorption of Omega-3 EPA and DHA.

Reducing theodor was important, because until the trial was over,

neither the doctors nor the patients knew which patients had gotten

which oils.

 

After a year of ingesting 2.7 grams of EPA and DHA every day,

twenty-three of the patients who received the fish oils were still

in remission. By contrast, only eleven of the thirty-nine control

patients stayed in remission.

 

In Crohn's disease, bowel tissue contains abnormally high levels of

inflammation-

producing, " bad " prostaglandins from Omega-6 ARA (arachadonic acid).

 

In the patients taking the fish oil whose illness remained in

remission, redblood cell levels of ARA plunged, while levels of

Omega-3 EPA and DHA rose greatly.

 

In general, laboratory tests indicated that inflammation decreased

in the fish oil patients, but increased in the control patients.

 

Ulcerative Colitis-

 

is another chronic inflammatory disease, usually of the large

intestine, in which ulceration and erosion of the bowel tissue

cause severe diarrhea and loss of blood, as well as weakness and

weightloss. As in Crohn's disease,

bowel tissue shows high levels of " bad, " ARA-produced

prostaglandins. The worse the symptoms, the higher the levels of

these trouble- making prostaglandins.

 

In one study, conducted by William Stenson of Washington University

School of medicine,

twenty-four patients with active ulcerative colitis who took fish-

oil capsules for four months showed a big drop in " bad "

prostaglandins.

These patients also showed bowel tissue healing and reduced rectal

bleeding,and they gained badly needed weight.

The capsules contained 5.4 grams of EPA and DHA.

 

Moreover, seven patients who were also getting prednisteroid steriod

drug,were able to cut their dosages in half.

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New Study Finds Fish Oil Helpful in Crohn's Disease

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A fascinating report appearing in the June 13, 1996 issue of the New

England Journal of Medicine found fish oil preparation to be useful

in Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is a condition characterized by recurrent episodes

of inflammation of the intestine. This disease maybe serious, and at

times patients may require surgery to remove those parts of the

intestine most severely inflamed.

 

Typically Crohn's disease is episodic. This means that patients may

experience " flareups " during which time their disease is active,as

well as relatively symptom free periods during which time digestive

function is fairly normal.

 

This recent study looked at 78 patients with Crohn's disease. One

group received nine fish oil capsules each day or a placebo. Among

the group of patients receiving the fish oil, 28% had relapses

during the one year study. In contrast, in the group receiving the

placebo, 69% experienced relapses.

 

It has long been known that foods like fish oil, rich in the omega-3

essential fatty acids, have significant

anti-inflammatory activity.

The omega-3 essential fatty acids produce a specific type of

chemical in the body called prostaglandins,

which serve as one of the body's main *mediators* of inflammation.

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EFA FUNCTIONS IN BODY--

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--1.EFAs are precursors of several important regulatory molecules

such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes in the body.

 

Prostaglandin E1, in particular has a wide range of desirable

effects including reduction of inflammation, lowering blood pressure

and inhibiting platelet aggregation.--

 

--1.EFAs are involved in transportation and metabolism of

cholesterol.EFAs disperse cholesterol and makes it more soluble so

that the body isable to get rid of it.

 

EFAs also have the ability to inhibit the synthesis of LDL (the bad

cholesterol) in our body.

 

--1.EFAs are required for every single cell in the body to function

effectively. The cell membrane must compose of certain level of EFAs

forproper cell structure and integrity.--

 

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Fish Oil is the oil extracted from the flesh of cold- water fish

such as alaskan salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines (water packed)

water), herrings and anchovies.

 

Fish oil is a rich source of the omega-3 essential fatty

acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid

(DHA). Both EPA and DHA are normal constituents of some human

tissues, including brain cells, retina, adrenals and sex organs -

all the most active tissues in the human body.

They also help keep the arteries clean.

 

Fish oil has been shown in studies to lower serum triglyceride

levels and reduce the thrombotic tendency of blood by reducing

platelet stickiness.

 

Nervous System--

 

EFAs are required for the normal membrane structure, cell structure

of the nerves and for normal nerve functions. EFAs are also of major

importance in the central nervous system. Reduced amount of EFAs in

the redblood cell wall makes the blood cell rigid. This in turn

results in a reduction in the supply of oxygen and nutrients that

can be transported by the red blood cell to the nerves.

 

The reduced volume ofoxygen and nutrients would impair nerve

functions. Studies have shown that GLA is able to prevent or reverse

neuropathy

(damage to the nerves) because direct supply of GLA results in an

improvement in nerve blood flow.

 

It is interesting to note that lipids make up 20 % of the brain and

is important for eye function.

 

Ref: Horrobin; Rev. Contemp. Pharmaco. 1990; 14

 

http://www.udoerasmus.com

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/EFAs