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Re: Thanks, I searched but what now? » saw

Posted by Larry Hoover on February 1, 2005, at 10:06:50

In reply to Thanks, I searched but what now?, posted by saw on January 24, 2005, at 2:45:24

> Thanks very much. I guess I was in a bit of a hurry to do a search last week.
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031003/msgs/270167.html from Larry describes nicely the difference between the 2 oils but I just don't which one I should be taking. Or why I am taking it in the first place.
>
> I have never seen a difference anywhere since taking: firstly Omega 3 & 6, then Salmon oil and now flaxseed oil containing omega and fish oil.
>
> I find the whole thing quite confusing.
>
> Sabrina

Sorry, I've been MIA for a while. Might as well start back in with something I'm really comfortable discussing.

The first thing I want to say is that omega-3 and omega-6 are categories of fatty acids. The individual members of those categories are not to be considered equivalent to each other. Each omega-3 or -6 fatty acid has its own biochemical "personality". There are enzymatic processes that change one to the other, but they are very inefficient. By far, the best way to obtain the individual members of those categories in their essential amounts is to consume them directly. Taking flax seed oil supplies a ready amount of a potential precursor to the longer chain omega-3s EPA and DHA, but it is not the same thing as simply taking those directly, as by consuming fish or fish oil. The same thing goes for the omega-6 fatty acids; although alpha-linoleic acid (18:2) and gamma-linolenic acid (18:3) are both omega-6 fatty acids, they have divergent biochemical impacts in the body, particularly in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids.

I generally do not recommend flax oil as a sole source of omega-3s. It's fine to have it in your diet, particularly to the extent that it substitutes for e.g. soya or corn oils, but it is not a complete source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Here is a really accessible summary article on the subject:

http://apt.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/8/3/223

Here's a good summary of the evidence for direct consumption of DHA:

http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/134/1/183

Lar

 

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poster:Larry Hoover thread:445087
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050131/msgs/450980.html