Omegas and Xenical and Puzzlement
 

Hi Amazing Group,

I was looking into the efficacy of using Xenical and now I am more confused than ever. I have added more fatty acid supplements to my regimen based on information on increased effectiveness for my chemo regimen (AC and T just ended - now on herceptin and rads 3 just started). Xenical looked good until I saw that it interacts with FAS and now I don't know.

I DO know there are many people here who have done extensive research into the fatty acids - so I am wondering if you can look at what I am taking to make sure I'm not assisting my cancer to grow instead of helping my chemo to work and if you know anything about taking these supplements and the effects Xenical would have on them??????

here are a couple of the abstracts I was reading - or shall we say trying to read :-)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=15870086

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=15235125

This is what I am taking:
Boarage oil - GLA 900; LA 1440; OA 585
Flax Seed Oil - ALA 1100; LA 300; OA 400
Fish Oil - DHA 1100; EPA 100
so that ends up Omega 3 at 2300, Omega 6 at 2640 and Omega 9 at 985

thanks so much for any help on this issue - have a great day!

Donna

Donna,

In an other thread (http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...light=orlistat) Lani pointed out that Xenical (Orlistat) is not aborbed by the digestive system so that its anticancer properties observed in lab conditions could only happen in humans if it was injected (intravenous or intramuscular) not when it is taken orally. I don't know if I.V. injection was ever tried.
An other point is that since your are taking a number of fatty acids if you were to add Xenical at the same time it could reduce their absorption by about 30% based on the fact that Xenical inhbits the lipase ezyme required to help fat absorption in the gut. So fatty acid dose compensation would be required to maintain the same effectiveness. This might worsen one side effect of Xenical: loose stools
Dose compensation might also be required for fat soluble vitamins normally provided by diet such as vitamin B,D,E,K.
One potential benefit of oral intake of Orlistat in cancer is in reduction of obesity which is a risk factor for several types of cancer.

Donna

If you are considering trying to balance omega threes and sixes you must also consider what omega three and six you are getting in your food.

One of the main sources of omega six in the western diet is vegetable oils many of which contain high levels 50 - 70%.

Vegetable oils are extensively used in processed foods.

There are quite a few posts on this site on the subject. If you cannot find them by searching please come back.

I have previously read about Orlistat but it is a while and my memory is vague so I cannot comment other than saying it is very complex and heblaj01 has cogently raised some of the issues I recall.

What is certain is that fats are central and very powerful factors in the bodies metabolism.

All significant dietary changes should be discussed with your advisors, and more so where involving products that alter the metabolism.


RB