The Importance of Pharmaceutical Grade Marine Lipids

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The Importance of Pharmaceutical Grade Marine Lipids

JoAnn Guest

Jul 08, 2004 13:27 PDT

 

 

The Importance of Pharmaceutical Grade Marine Lipids

Introduction

 

In the last year, several landmark studies have once again highlighted

the importance of the longer chain omega-3 fatty acids such as

eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) found in fish.

 

 

The reason why these fatty substances are so important revolve around

their role in cellular membranes.

 

A diet that is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and

DHA, results in altered cell membranes. Without a healthy membrane,

cells lose their ability to hold water, vital nutrients, and

electrolytes.

 

They also lose their ability to communicate with other cells and be

controlled by regulating hormones. They simply do not function properly.

 

 

Cell membrane dysfunction is a critical factor in the development of

virtually every chronic disease, especially cancer, diabetes, arthritis,

and heart disease. Not surprisingly, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids have

shown tremendous protective effects against all of these diseases.

 

Some conditions benefited more by long-chain omega-3 fatty acids than

flaxseed oil:

 

Aging (are you over 50?)

Allergies

Arthritis

Asthma

Attention deficit disorder

Autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, MS, etc.)

Cancer (prevention and treatment adjunct)

Depression

Diabetes

Eczema

Elevated cholesterol or triglyceride levels

Heart disease (prevention and treatment)

Inflammatory conditions (e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)

Menopause

Pregnancy

Psoriasis

Fish Oils vs. Flaxseed Oil

 

Although the body can convert alpha-linolenic acid, a short-chain

omega-3 fatty acid, from flaxseed oil, it is much more efficient to get

EPA and DHA from fish oils.

 

Furthermore, there is evidence that many people, particularly many men,

have a difficult time converting alpha-linolenic acid to EPA and DHA.

 

Also, the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, but not alpha-linolenic acid

the chief component of, are also transformed into regulatory compounds

known as prostaglandins.

 

These compounds carry out many important tasks in the body. They

regulate inflammation, pain, and swelling; they play a role in

maintaining blood pressure; and they regulate heart, digestive, and

kidney function.

 

Prostaglandins also participate in the response to allergies, help

control transmission of signals along the nerves, and help regulate the

production of steroids and other hormones.

 

Through their effects on prostaglandins and related compounds,

long-chain omega-3 fatty acids can mediate many physiological processes

making them useful in virtually every disease state as well.

 

My opinion on the superiority of longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids over

alpha-linolenic acid is not new. I have always held that if

manufacturers could solve some of the problems with commercial sources

of EPA and DHA that I would wholeheartedly recommend them over flaxseed

oil.

The reason that I favored flaxseed oil over fish oils in some of my

books (e.g., Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine) was because at the time

the books were written there were MAJOR problems with fish oil

supplements. These problems still persist in that most encapsulated fish

oil products have been shown to contain very high levels of lipid

peroxides, harmful contaminants, and heavy metals. Furthermore, because

of the relatively low concentration of EPA and DHA in these products in

order to produce therapeutic benefits people would have to consume 10 or

more 1,000 mg capsules daily. Because of these factors, it simply made

more sense to recommend flaxseed oil. However, a new development has

changed my perspective a bit although I still think it makes great sense

to utilize flaxseed oil on a daily basis as well.

 

New Developments

The ability to produce a highly concentrated form of long-chain omega-3

fatty acids that is free from lipid peroxides, heavy metals,

environmental contaminants, and other harmful compounds.

 

These " pharmaceutical grade " marine lipid concentrates are so superior

to earlier fish oil products that they are literally revolutionizing

nutritional medicine. RxOmega-3 Factors from Natural Factors is an

example of this revolutionary new source of long-chain fatty acids. The

key features of this product over regular fish oil products include:

 

More than twice the level of EPA and DHA per capsule than most brands.

 

Each capsule provides 600 mg of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (400 mg

EPA/200 mg DHA)*

Quality control steps to insure the product is free from lipid

peroxides, heavy metals, environmental contaminants, and other harmful

compounds.

 

Ratio of omega-3 fatty acids to arachidonic acid > 50:1

Contains the optimal amount of natural vitamin E as a preservative.

Fish oil, mercury, and heart disease

 

Two highly publicized studies in 2002 demonstrated quite conclusively

that fish consumption can reduce heart disease.

 

The first article, published in the JAMA (Journal of the American

Medical Association) showed that there was a clear relationship between

dietary intake of fish and omega-3 fatty acids and the likelihood of

developing coronary heart disease - the higher the omega-3 fatty acid

intake, the lower the likelihood of coronary heart disease. This

relationship was even stronger for coronary deaths.

 

The second article, published in the New England Journal of Medicine,

looked at omega-3 fatty acid levels in blood as opposed to diet.

 

The investigators found a striking relationship between the blood level

of omega-3 fatty acids present and the follow-up likelihood of dying

from coronary heart disease.

 

The Latest Study

While fish oils may protect against heart disease, the latest study

raises an important question - Is the benefit of eating fish

counteracted by a higher intake of mercury?

 

Mercury has been known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Because fish intake is a major source of exposure to mercury, the

mercury content of fish may counteract the beneficial effects of its n-3

fatty acids.

 

Results from another study published in the New England Journal of

Medicine show that while higher body levels of fish oils were associated

with a decreased risk for heart attacks, the higher the body mercury

level the greater risk of a heart attack, Researchers concluded that the

high mercury content of fish may diminish the protective effect of fish

intake against heart disease.

 

The Solution

Using a pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement is the perfect solution

to people wanting the health benefits of fish oils without the mercury

and other contaminants found in fish.

 

It is estimated that the use of fish oil supplements may reduce overall

cardiovascular mortality by as much as 45%. This effect is not related

to a change in blood cholesterol levels.

 

The favorable effect is seen very rapidly, usually by three months into

the study. In contrast, cholesterol-lowering drugs do not usually show

benefit until after a year or more of therapy. As compared to drug

therapy, omega-3 fatty acids provide remarkable benefits, are entirely

safe, and are inexpensive.

 

My Recommendations

For general health, take 200 to 400 mg of EPA and 100 to 200 mg of DHA

daily. It is best to take the supplements at the beginning of the meal.

For therapeutic indications the dosage is to triple this dosage.

 

 

 

Key References:

 

Hu FB, Bronner L, Willett WC, et al. Fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake

and risk of coronary heart disease in women. JAMA 2002;287:1815-21.

Albert CM, Campos H, Stampfer MJ, et al. Blood levels of long-chain n-3

fatty acids and the risk of sudden death. N Engl J Med 2002;346:1113-8.

Guallar E, Sanz-Gallardo MI, van't Veer P, Bode P, et al. Mercury, fish

oils, and the risk of myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med

2002;347:1747-54.

Bucher HC, Hengstler P, Schindler C, Meier G. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty

acids in coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of randomized

controlled trials. Am J Med 2002;112:298-304.

 

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JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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