Posted by SLS on May 8, 2011, at 6:58:24
In reply to Re: fish oil studies?, posted by desolationrower on May 7, 2011, at 20:57:20
Hi d/r.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. From your descriptions, it seems plausible that fish oil has effects other than simply supplying cells with the raw materials to produce cell membranes.
- Scott
> > I suspect that there is more to fish oil than just providing the building blocks of cell membranes. Some people get manic from it within the first day of taking it. It would seem that these omega fatty acids have pharmacological properties at supranutritional high dosages. I don't know. Maybe not.
> >
> > Can you shed any light on this subject?
> >
> >
> > - Scott
> Well omega-3 (and omega-6) fats are the basis of eicosanoids, which have a lot of effects, including functioning as neurotransmitters & membranes. (omega-3 fats are both converted into them, and compete with omega-6 oils for the enzymes, reducing omega-6 based eicosanoid production). So you end up altering something like two dozen signals (plus the other effects).
>
> So, while they do play a disproportionate role in the the formation of cells in the brain, they also are important for the formation of hormones in cellular signalling. But i wouldn't discount the cell membrane effects. I am not sure the cellular membrane function is well understood yet. I sort of forget most of what they do, the evidence is so overwhelming I wouldn't consider not taking or eating them. The thing I am interested in right now is the good & bad effects of their greater peroxizeability (being polyunsaturated makes them more vulnerable); this has both bad effects (creating toxins) and good (the peroxidized fatty acids may be involved in cellular signalling to increase insulin sensitivity & antioxidant systems. cycloxygenase, the enzyme NSAIDs inhibit, does something similar to w-3 & w-6 fatty acids).
>
> -d/r
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.
poster:SLS
thread:984717
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110502/msgs/984900.html