Posted by Larry Hoover on February 5, 2003, at 17:16:40
In reply to Larry, a few fish oil questions » Larry Hoover, posted by andys on February 4, 2003, at 6:04:18
> Larry, thanks again for your most informative posting.
My pleasure.
> You had mentioned having sufficient fat with my meal and omegabrite. Given that I'm a semi-vegetarian (therefore low fat intake), what would you suggest? a gulp of flax oil? olive oil? (Your comment implies that the fish burps are an indication that I'm not fully absorbing, and getting the benefits of the omegabrite).
Fish burps arise because of the acid-based hydrolysis of the fish oil, yielding glycerol and free fatty acids. The free fatty acids can then undergo an acid-catalysed oxidation reaction, yielding aldehydes characteristic of aging fish. The idea is to limit the exposure of the fish oil to the acid. If there is little fat in the meal, the food will tend to stay in the stomach longer. Fatty meals tend to move more quickly into the duodenum, and subsequently, are exposed to pancreatic lipase (the enzyme which digests triglycerides). Bottom line is you'll get less burps and better absorption if you take your fish oil with a high fat meal. Alternatively, foods which provide an emulsion will also help things a bit. Egg yolks are an example, as is anything with lecithin in it.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1988 Oct 31;156(2):960-3
Absorption of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from fish oil triacylglycerols or fish oil ethyl esters co-ingested with a high-fat meal.
Lawson LD, Hughes BG.
Murdock Pharmaceuticals, Springville, Utah 84663.
The absorption of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil triacylglycerols and fish oil ethyl esters consumed in a high-fat meal (44 g total fat) by male volunteers was measured and compared to values previously reported for consumption in a low-fat meal (8 g total fat). Absorption of EPA, but not of DHA, from fish oil triacylglycerols was significantly improved from 69% to 90% by co-ingestion with the high-fat meal. Absorption of both EPA and DHA from fish oil ethyl esters was increased three-fold, to about 60%, by co-ingestion with the high-fat meal, indicating that absorption of fatty acid ethyl esters is highly dependent on the amount of co-ingested fat.
> By the way, what brand and quantity do you take? (IF you're reluctant to promote a brand, at least what is the makeup? is it straight fish oil? (which I believe is a 2:1 ration EPA/
> DHA).I use Walmart Spring Valley brand because it's cheap. Straight fish oil, said to contain 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA per gram.
>nd is it your feeling that my current 7:1 product is underestimating the value of DHA?
Yes.
> Reflecting on your heart disease section: I have semi-high cholesterol, and semi-high CRP (c-reactive protein). (a recent finding was that high crp is higher in the depressed population). Is there a negative impact on fish oil absorption, should I someday add a statin drug for cholesterol/crp?
Fish oil should reduce your total cholesterol, fasting and postprandial triglycerides, and improve the HDL/LDL ratio. Blood pressure might fall by ten points.
>I minimize risk with very low saturated fat intake, and vigorous exercise).
I second the exercise part, but saturated fats tend to be heart neutral. They were villainized inadvertently, when the real issue was trans fats produced from the partial hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. vegetable oil hydrogenated for margarine and shortening).
If you eat a diet where starches and sugars dominate, your liver will produce quantities of saturated fats in a process known as de novo lipogenesis. In fact, low fat diets promote this "new fat" formation, resulting in the current obesity epidemic. Unprocessed fats are good for you (which is why our taste buds draw us to fatty foods). Processed fats are bad for you. Processed carbohydrates are bad for you.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:138737
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030204/msgs/139634.html