Whilst going back through Smart Fats ( latest version called Brain Building Nutrition) I noted the following comment in relation to fatty acids and brain tumour tissue.
I have not managed to find the original research.
" Indeed, intravenously administered fatty acids were more rapidly incorporated into the implanted tumour cells than the normal brain tissue." This was in respect of intralcerebrally implanted brain tissue.
The book suggests that brain tumours have higher omega six and lower omega three than healthy brain tissue.
The book asks the question could balancing the fats and oils prevent or treat brain tumours.
Very much on the edge and an area that is unresearched, but maybe a subject to discuss with advisers for those with brain tumours whose options are otherwise limited.
Trials referred in book to as to the composition of normal and tumorous brain tissue are copied below. I have been unable to find two.
RB
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...+human+gliomas
1: Lipids. 1996 Dec;31(12):1283-8. Related Articles, Links
The fatty acid composition of human gliomas differs from that found in nonmalignant brain tissue.
Martin DD, Robbins ME, Spector AA, Wen BC, Hussey DH.
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242, USA.
To compare the fatty acid composition of tumor tissue from glioma patients with that of normal brain tissue, tissue samples were obtained from 13 glioma patients and from 3 nonmalignant patients. Following lipid extraction, total fatty acid composition was measured using gas-liquid chromatography. samples were further separated into phospholipids and neutral lipids. Representative samples were then separated into phospholipid classes by thin-layer chromatography and the fatty acid composition assayed. Levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were significantly reduced (P = 0.029) in the glioma samples compared with normal brain samples; mean values were 4.8 +/- 2.9% and 9.2 +/- 1.0%, respectively. This reduction in glioma DHA content was also observed in terms of phospholipids (4.6 +/- 2.1% vs. 9.6 +/- 0.8%, P = 0.002). The phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipid classes were reduced in the glioma samples. Differences were also noted in the n-6 PUFA content between glioma and normal brain samples. The glioma content of the n-6 PUFA linoleic acid was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than that observed in the control samples in terms of total lipids. Thus, the fatty acid composition of human gliomas differs from that found in nonmalignant brain tissue.
PMID: 8972462 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
1: Acta Physiol Hung. 1992;79(4):381-7. Related Articles, Links
Phospholipids and fatty acids in human brain tumors.
Ledwozyw A, Lutnicki K.
Department of Pathophysiology, Veterinary Faculty of Agricultural Academy, Lublin, Poland.
Phospholipid and fatty acid composition of human brain tumors is presented. The white matter contains a greater amount of phosphatidylinositol and a very low level of lysophosphoglycerides, as compared to the grey matter. Glioma and meningioma tumors contain a greater amount of phosphatidylinositol, sphingomyelin, and lysophosphoglycerides, as compared to normal cortex tissue. A significant rise in oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acid content in tumor tissue was observed. It is suggested, that changes in lipid composition, may play a role in structural and functional membrane perturbations in neoplastic cells.
PMID: 1343190 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]