Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Information from Dr. Andreas Papas

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Information from Dr. Andreas Papas JoAnn

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Jan 09, 2007 10:24 PST

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Information from Dr. Andreas Papas

http://www.willner.com/article.aspx?artid=91

 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids . . .The Omega-T™ Advantage, by Yasoo Health

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Omega-3 fatty acids are important building blocks of our cell

membranes, signaling pathways and neurological systems. They play a

critical role in many functions in the body and are essential for

good health. These health effects were noted at first by studying

the Inuit Indians which

ate a diet of marine and fish wildlife and had a significantly

reduced risk of heart attacks.

 

The benefit of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease is so

well demonstrated that the American Heart Association has published

statements since 1996 recommending increased

fish intake and/or omega-3 supplements. Scientists and physicians

have also discovered many other benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and

the research continues to grow!

 

In this Omega-T™ advantage section you will learn the basics about

fatty acids and fats, their function in our bodies, the affects of

our western diet on omega-3 levels and the latest research on the

cardiovascular and other benefits of this compound. In addition

there is a section on

coenzyme Q10 - another critical nutrient that has a synergistic role

with omega-3 and is found in Omega-T™, Yasoo's exciting new product.

 

The Omega-3 Basics

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Omega-3: The Basics. Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chained,

polyunsaturated fatty acids.

 

Who are you calling a fatty acid?

 

Fatty acids are the building blocks of triglycerides and other

lipids. They are usually composed of a long

chain of unbranched carbon atoms with a carboxyl group at one end.

Most fatty acids contain between 4 and 24 carbon atoms in the

backbone.

 

What is a saturated fatty acid? A saturated fatty acid has only

single bonds in the carbon backbone.

 

Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more

double bonds in the carbon backbone.

 

Thus, monounsaturated fatty acids have one double bond and

polyunsaturated fatty acids have two or more double bonds.

 

These double bonds decrease the melting point – that means they are

more likely to be a liquid than a solid at room temperature. The

longer the carbon backbone length, however, the higher the melting

point and the more likely to be a solid than a liquid at room

temperature. The melting points of a series of 18-carbon fatty acids

are stearic acid, 69.6 °C; oleic acid, 13.4 °C; linoleic acid, -5 °

C; and linolenic acid, -11 °C.

 

What does omega-3 mean? Fatty acids are named by the amount of

carbon atoms and double bonds in the backbone. Thus, linolenic acid,

C-18:3 9,12,15 , means a 18 carbon backbone with three double bonds

after the 9th, 12th and 15th carbons from the " front " or carboxyl

group. An simpler naming method only declares the first double bond

from the

methyl end and calls this compound an omega-3 fatty acid. This means

that this fatty acid has a double bond 3 carbons from the " end " or

methyl group.

 

What is an essential fatty acid? Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are

important because our bodies do not have the enzymes necessary to

create double bonds after the 10th carbon from the carboxyl group.

 

Thus, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids are essential.

 

 

 

ALA is the only essential omega-3 fatty acid because our bodies can

convert ALA into others such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and

docosahexanoic acid DHA.

 

There are, however, conditions where this conversion is

inefficient. For example, infants and people with certain

enzyme deficiencies cannot efficiently convert ALA to EPA. For this

reason, EPA and DHA are sometimes considered as conditionally

essential.

 

 

The major omega-3 fatty acids are:

 

ALA, (alpha) linolenic acid

 

EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid

 

DHA, docosahexanoic acid

 

The dietary requirements of essential fatty acids are approximately

2%

of caloric intake for adults and 3% for children.

 

Where do we get omega-3 fatty acids? ALA is found primarily in dark

green leafy vegetables, flaxseed oils, and certain vegetable oils.

EPA

and DHA are found primarily in oily cold-water fish such as

mackerel,

herring, tuna, and salmon.

 

Where do we get omega-6 fatty acids? Linoleic acid is found

primarily in

seeds, nuts, grains and legumes and thus heavily present in our diet

in

the form of vegetable oils (ex. corn oil) and seed oils (sunflower

oil).

They are also present in food items, such as mayoniase and salad

dressing, that contain these oils.

 

What purpose do omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids serve? Omega-3 and

omega-6 fatty acids are critical in the structure of our cell

membranes

and the development of the nervous system and form the foundation

for

the synthesis of cell mediators (prostaglandins and leukotrienies).

These cell mediators play an important role in human physiology and

can

affect coagulation, inflammation and proliferation of certain cells.

 

More specifically, omega-3 fatty acids:

 

1. comprise the phospholipid bilayer in the membrane of cells

 

2. affect cell signalling and gene exprression

 

3. are primary components of brain, retina and other nerve tissue.

 

4. form the foundation for proinflammatory and inhibitory compounds

such

as Thomboxane A2

 

5. play a key role in the prevention and management of chronic

diseases.

 

 

The omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and the changing western

diet.

In an effort to reduce cholesterol levels and lead healthier

lifestyles,

many Americans have substituted vegetable oils which are high in

omega-3

fatty acids, in place of saturated fat from animals. This change in

diet

has led to an enormous increase in omega-6 fatty acid consumption

and

has elevated the typical omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 2:1 to 25-50:1.

 

The increase in omega-6 fatty acid ratio can have profound effects

on an

individual's health. This reason is that omega-6 fatty acids do not

provide the health benefits that omega-3 fatty acids do. Although

omega-6 fatty acids are an important part of the cell membrane,

replacement of the phospholipids EPA and DHA (derivates of omega-3

fatty

acids) with arachidonic acid (derivate of omega-6 fatty acids) leads

to

a more thrombogenic state. Omega-3 fatty acids and their derivates

reduce thrombogenisis by altering certain pathways leading to the

production of less inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins,

leukotrienes

and thromboxanes). The table below highlights the general

differences in

health benefits between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

 

1. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, omega-6 increase

inflammation.

 

2. Omega-3 fatty acids are antithrombotic, omega-6 increase blood

clotting.

 

3. Omega-3 are non-immunoreactive, omega-6 are immunoreactive.

 

These differences have profound implications for heart disease,

cancer,

arthritis, allergies and other chronic diseases. The scientific

consensus is that the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids should

be

less than 5.

 

How can I get more omega-3 fatty acids? Many people desire to

supplement

their omega-3 fatty acid intake with dietary supplements. These

supplements generally contain flaxseed oil or fish oil. DHA is

commercially available in its pure form.

 

• Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid but no EPA and DHA.

 

• Fish oil contains primarily EPA and DHA

 

Omega-3 from fish oil are available as triglycerides or ethyl

esters.

The preferred form of omega-3 fatty acids is triglycerides from fish

oil. It is the most bioavailable form.

 

Cardiovascular Benefits

 

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Coronary Artery Disease.

 

What's an Inuit? There has been a strong association between omega-3

fatty acids and cardiovascular health in many observational studies.

Some of the initial evidence focused on the Inuit, an Eskimo

population

in Greenland, who have a significantly lower mortality rate from

coronary artery disease despite high total fat intake and similar

cholesterol levels when compared to the population of Denmark. The

Inuit

diet consists largely of marine mammals and fish, high in omega-3

fatty

acids.

 

[Kromann N, Green A. Epidemiologic studies in the Upernavik

district,

Greenland: incidence of some chronic diseases 1950-1974. Acta Med

Scand.

1980;208:401-406.]

 

[bang HO, Dyerberg J, Horne N. The composition of food consumed by

Greenland Eskimos. Acta Med Scand. 1976;200:69-73. ]

 

Clinical Intervention Studies. Since the association was made in

observational studies, researchers have conducted several

interventional

clinical trials that have shown decreased mortality from

cardiovascular

disease, specifically myocardial infarction in the past two decades.

 

One of the most well known studies, the GISSI-3 {Gruppo Italiano per

lo

Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardio (GISSI)-

Prevenzione},

in which 11,324 people were given 1gram of omega-3 fatty acids or

control for 24 months. This large study showed that persons given

omega-3 fatty acid supplements had a 45% decrease in risk of sudden

cardiac death and a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality.

 

[GISSI-Prevenzione Investigators. Dietary supplementation with n-3

polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E after myocardial

infarction:

results of the GISSI-Prevenzione trial. Lancet 1999;354:447-55. ]

 

Meta-Analysis. A meta-analysis recently published in the American

Journal of Medicine reviewed 11 clinical intervention studies

published

between1966 and 1999. The relative risk ratio for patients

supplemented

with omega-3 fatty acids as compared to controls was 0.7 (P<0.001),

0.8

for nonfatal myocardial infarctions (P=0.16) and 0.7 (P<0.001) for

overall death.

 

What does this mean for you? Well, a meta-analysis groups the

results of

several studies to make more meaningful conclusions. If you eat a

significant amount of fish or take omega-3 fatty acid supplement you

can

decrease your risk of dying by 30% or you risk of having a fatal

heart

attack by 20%. That is a pretty persuasive argument!

 

How do omega-3 lower cardiovascular risk? There has been a lot of

research on this topic and there are several possible mechanisms for

these beneficial effects:

 

-Lowering triglycerides (lipids in your bloodstream)

 

-Reducing endothelial dysfunction (making your blood vessels

healthier)

 

-Inhibiting monocyte adhesion and inflammatory mediators (reducing

inflammation)

 

-Reducing heart arrhythmias

 

-Reducing hypercoagulability (reducing the chance of blood clots)

 

-The FDA approved a qualified health claim on the heart benefits of

the

omega-3 fatty acids. http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ds-ltr11.html

 

Hypertension.

 

A meta-analysis on this issue, that included 17 clinical trials,

concluded that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids reduced both

systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients. The

effect on non-hypertensive patients was minimal.

 

[Appel LJ. Miller ER 3rd. Seidler AJ. Whelton PK. Does

supplementation

of diet with 'fish oil' reduce blood pressure? A meta-analysis of

controlled clinical trials.[comment]. [Journal Article. Meta-

Analysis]

Archives of Internal Medicine. 153(12):1429-38, 1993 Jun 28. [

 

Arrythmias.

 

Several clinical intervention, including GISSI-3 mentioned above,

studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids reduce sudden death,

especially in patients who have prior coronary artery disease. The

decrease in sudden death is partly attributed to the reduction in

fatal

cardiac arrhymias. Recent animal studies are close to elucidating

the

mechanism behind this benefit.

 

De Caterina R. Madonna R. [Antiarrhythmia effects of omega-3 fatty

acids. A review]. [Review] [86 refs] [italian] [Journal Article.

Review.

Review, Tutorial] Italian Heart Journal: Official Journal of the

Italian

Federation of Cardiology. 3(3 Suppl):297-308, 2002 Mar.

 

Other Benefits of Omega-T™

 

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Neurological Health

 

DHA is a major component of the brain and other neural tissue

including

the light-sensitive cells in the retina of the eye. DHA comprises

approximately 20% of the lipid material in our brain. All essential

fatty acids are important for normal fetal development and DHA is

particularly because fetuses and premature infants cannot produce

DHA

efficiently.

 

Preliminary studies suggest that the omega-3 fatty acids and

particularly DHA may help delay the progression of Alzheimer's. DHA

is

also studied for its role in fighting depression, and early results

appear very promising.

 

Joint health and arthritis

 

There has been considerable in vitro and animal models testing the

use

of omega-3 fatty acids in arthritis. This research as well as some

clinical trials suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the

severity of the symptoms, slow the progression of the disease and

reduce

the need for drug treatment. The potential benefits of omega-3 fatty

acids may be due to their anti-inflammatory properties. The

evidence,

while promising is not conclusive at this time.

 

In addition, there is considerable evidence that omega-3 fatty acids

can

benefit patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a severe autoimmune

disease.

In one study, 66 patients were randomized to receive omega-3 fatty

acids

or placebo. Those who received omega-3 fatty acids had clinical

improvement including a decrease in the number of tender joints.

 

[Kremer JM. Lawrence DA. Petrillo GF. Litts LL. Mullaly PM. Rynes

RI.

Stocker RP. Parhami N. Greenstein NS. Fuchs BR. et al. Effects of

high-dose fish oil on rheumatoid arthritis after stopping

nonsteroidal

antiinflammatory drugs. Clinical and immune correlates. [Clinical

Trial.

Journal Article. Multicenter Study. Randomized Controlled Trial]

Arthritis & Rheumatism.]

 

Other diseases

 

- Omega-3 fatty acids are studied for their potential benefits in:

 

- Allergies and asthma

 

- Multiple sclerosis

 

- Cancer

 

- Crohn's and inflammatory bowel disease

 

The evidence is not conclusive at this time.

 

[Nagakura T. Matsuda S. Shichijyo K. Sugimoto H. Hata K. Dietary

supplementation with fish oil rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty

acids in children with bronchial asthma. [Clinical Trial. Journal

Article. Randomized Controlled Trial] European Respiratory Journal.

16(5):861-5, 2000 Nov.]

 

[Hodge L. Salome CM. Hughes JM. Liu-Brennan D. Rimmer J. Allman M.

Pang

D. Armour C. Woolcock AJ. Effect of dietary intake of omega-3 and

omega-6 fatty acids on severity of asthma in children. [Clinical

Trial.

Journal Article. Randomized Controlled Trial] European Respiratory

Journal. 11(2):361-5, 1998 Feb.]

 

[Kjeldsen-Kragh J. Lund JA. Riise T. Finnanger B. Haaland K. Finstad

R.

Mikkelsen K. Forre O. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and

naproxen treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. [Clinical

Trial. Journal Article. Randomized Controlled Trial] Journal of

Rheumatology. 19(10):1531-6, 1992 Oct.]

 

Coenzyme Q10

 

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Hemmi N. Bhagavan, Ph.D., F.A.C.N.

 

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a naturally occurring compound and

antioxidant, is

critical to humans for the production of energy. It belongs to the

homologous series of compounds called coenzyme Q that share the same

basic ring structure but differ in the length of the " isoprenoid "

side

chain. Because of their wide and ubiquitous distribution in nature,

these compounds are also called ubiquinones. CoQ10 stands for CoQ

with

10 isoprene units and it is the form present in humans and several

other

species. CoQ compounds play an essential role in the production of

cellular energy in most aerobic organisms, from humans to plants and

bacteria (Bliznakov, 1987).

 

Although CoQ10 is sometimes referred to as a vitamin, by strict

definition it does not meet one criteria necessary for this

distinction.

CoQ10 is a naturally occurring compound that is synthesized in our

body.

Vitamins, on the other hand, are essential nutrients that are not

produced in the body, and must be supplied by exogenous sources.

CoQ10

could be called a conditionally " essential nutrient " since its

production in the body may not meet the needs under certain

conditions.

Data show that CoQ10 production in the body is reduced as we age.

There

are other pathologic conditions where CoQ10 status is compromised.

Those

tissues and organs with high energy requirements such as the heart,

liver, skeletal muscle are ones readily affected when CoQ10 supply

becomes limiting.

 

Research conducted during 1960s and 1970s clearly established the

role

of CoQ10 as a key component of the mitochondrial electron transport

system (also known as the respiratory chain) where biological energy

in

the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is produced. CoQ10 serves

as

the critical cofactor for at least three mitochondrial enzymes

enabling

the transfer of electrons between the donors and recipients. Thus,

CoQ10

plays an essential role in the synthesis of ATP, the energy that

drives

all cellular activities and without which cells cease to function

(Crane, 2001).

 

In addition to this role, CoQ10 also functions as an important

fat-soluble antioxidant that can regenerate other antioxidants and a

membrane stabilizer (Ernster and Dallner, 1995; Crane 2001).

 

CoQ10 deficiency has been observed in various disease processes such

as

congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiomyopathy, chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease (COPD), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),

cancer, hypertension, and periodontal disease. The heart has the

highest

concentration of CoQ10 and it is therefore not surprising that the

early

clinical trials on the therapeutic potential of CoQ10 focused on

heart

disease as the target. Dr. Yuichi Yamamura in Japan was the first to

demonstrate the clinical efficacy of CoQ in heart failure as far

back as

in 1967 (Yamamura et al, 1967). Dr. Karl Folkers followed this up

and in

1985, he along with Dr. Svend Mortensen and his colleagues

demonstrated

a strong correlation between CHF and the tissue levels of CoQ10

(Mortensen et al, 1985). The original Japanese findings on the

clinical

efficacy of CoQ10 in CHF have now been confirmed in numerous

clinical

trials carried out in several other countries (Langsjoen and

Langsjoen,

1998; 1999). In addition to CHF, there are other cardiovascular

diseases

that have been successfully treated with CoQ10 supplementation.

Among

these are diastolic dysfunction, angina pectoris, hypertension,

ventricular arrhythmias, mitral valve prolapse and also drug induced

cardiotoxicities (Sinatra, 1998). In most of these studies, CoQ10

treatment was employed as an adjunct to standard medical therapy.

 

Among the other conditions where the therapeutic value of CoQ10 has

been

demonstrated are diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction such

as

mitochondrial cytopathies, neurodegenerative diseases such as

Parkinson's and Huntington's, and immune system disorders (Fuke et

al,

2000; Shults et al., 2002).

 

The advent of the new generation of cholesterol lowering drugs

called

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as " statins " ) has brought

forth

a unique and an unexpected interaction with CoQ10. Statins have

become

very popular and are being widely prescribed to lower cholesterol

and

thus reduce the risk for heart disease. These drugs block

cholesterol

production in the body by inhibiting the enzyme called HMG-CoA

reductase

in the early steps of its synthesis in the mevalonate pathway.

However,

the same biosynthetic pathway is also shared by CoQ10. Therefore,

one

unfortunate consequence of statins is the unintentional inhibition

of

CoQ10 synthesis eventually resulting in CoQ10 deficiency and

associated

health problems.

 

Thus, in the long run, statin drugs could predispose the patients to

heart disease by lowering their CoQ10 status, the very condition

that

these drugs are intended to prevent. Dr. Emile Bliznakov, an

authority

on CoQ10, recently published a scholarly review on the interaction

between statins and CoQ10 (Bliznakov, 2002, Bliznakov and Wilkins,

1998). In addition to statins, there are other classes of drugs that

inhibit endogenous CoQ10 synthesis. Among these are beta blockers

and

hypoglycemic agents. An antagonism between warfarin and CoQ10 has

been

reported (Fuke et al, 2000).

 

Disclaimer. This material has been provided for information purposes

only and should not be construed as recommendations. Please consult

your

health care provider first if you have any health problems.

 

 

 

.. . . The Omega-T™ Advantage

 

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Additional References

 

Cardiovascular Benefits Section.

 

Kromhout D, Bosschieter EB, Coulander CDL. The inverse relation

between

fish consumption and 20-year mortality from coronary heart disease.

N

Engl J Med 1985; 312:1205-09

 

Shekell RB, Missell LV, Paul O, et al. Fish consumption and

mortality

from coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med 1985; 313:820

 

Norell SE, Ahlbom A, Feychting M, et al. Fish consumption and

mortality

from coronary heart disease. BMJ 1986; 293:426

 

Knapp HR, FitzGerald GA. The antihypertensive effects of fish oil: a

controlled study of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements in

essential

hypertension. N Engl J Med 1989; 320:1037-43

 

Bonaa KH, Bjerve KS, Straume B, et al. Effect of eicosapentaenoic

and

docosahexaenoic acids on blood pressure in hypertension: a

population-based intervention trial from the Tromso study. N Engl J

Med

1990; 322:795-801

 

Radack K, Deck C, Huster G. The effects of low doses of n-3 fatty

acid

supplementation on blood pressure in hypertensive subjects: a

randomized

controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 1991; 151:1173-80

 

Coenzyme Q10 Section.

 

Bliznakov EG. The Miracle Nutrient Coenzyme Q10. Bantam Books, New

York,

1987.

 

Bliznakov EG, Wilkins DJ. Biochemical and clinical consequences of

coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis by lipid-lowering HMG-CoA reductase

inhibitors

(statins): A critical review. Adv Therap 1998;15:218-28.

 

Bliznakov, E. G. Lipid-lowering drugs (statins), cholesterol, and

coenzyme Q10. The Baycol case – a modern Pandora's box. Biomed.

Pharmacother., 56, 56, 2002.

 

Crane, F. L. New functions for coenzyme Q. Protoplasma, 213, 127,

2000.

 

Crane FL, Hatefi

 

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets