Tom
10-10-2005, 10:51 PM
Hi Guys. Here is the begining of the Omega-6 research I promised I would follow up on earlier. I am still a little unsure of which way I am going to proceed with Mom's supplements with respect to Omega-6, which includes linoleic acid and gamma linolenic acid.
If you read the article I have linked here, you will get, besides a pounding headache, a better feel for the importance of these essential fatty acids, and the fact that the science with respect to their role in cancers, is still unclear. Please note that my concern is related to the fact that arachidonic acid, also an Omega-6, is a by-product of linoleic acid which breaks down to gamma-linolenic acid, and further to arachidonic acid. The problem with arachidonic acid, which is contained in meat, is that it plays an important role in the promotion of prostaglandins, part of the body's inflammatory response mechanism.
Please read this article carefully, and several times, as one of the most important concepts to grasp is the ratio of Omega-6 acids to Omega-3 acids. The ratio is critical to the successful use of Omega-6 and Omega-3 supplements. The use of oleic acid (Omega-9), seems much simpler, and I may end up using more olive oil to obtain appropriate oleic acid levels that have been determined useful with Herceptin therapy, rather than relying so much on flaxseed oil for it. Again, I have not made up my mind completely about this issue, and I will continue to research it. The link is below.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Omega6FattyAcidscs.html
If you read the article I have linked here, you will get, besides a pounding headache, a better feel for the importance of these essential fatty acids, and the fact that the science with respect to their role in cancers, is still unclear. Please note that my concern is related to the fact that arachidonic acid, also an Omega-6, is a by-product of linoleic acid which breaks down to gamma-linolenic acid, and further to arachidonic acid. The problem with arachidonic acid, which is contained in meat, is that it plays an important role in the promotion of prostaglandins, part of the body's inflammatory response mechanism.
Please read this article carefully, and several times, as one of the most important concepts to grasp is the ratio of Omega-6 acids to Omega-3 acids. The ratio is critical to the successful use of Omega-6 and Omega-3 supplements. The use of oleic acid (Omega-9), seems much simpler, and I may end up using more olive oil to obtain appropriate oleic acid levels that have been determined useful with Herceptin therapy, rather than relying so much on flaxseed oil for it. Again, I have not made up my mind completely about this issue, and I will continue to research it. The link is below.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Omega6FattyAcidscs.html