Omega-6 Research I Promised

[Tom]

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/ConsSupple...tyAcidscs.html

[Lolly]

Tom, thanks for the information; you're right, it IS confusing! Here's an interesting article I found on this subject from the Linus Pauling Institute:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...nuts/omega3fa/

[Gina]

I have tried both of course, but for me...I think the olive oil is a better combo than the flaxseed/oil...I get the gla in moderation from a very good evening primrose tab..only take 500mg a day...but that combined with the olive LEAF actually and not so much the olive oil (just use it daily in regular diet or take a whole spoonful now an then) is what seems to have worked for years with me, combined with herceptin and a GAZILLON other things...ha ha ha...pretty soon the short list will be the things "I HAVEN'T tried..." smile..

Thanks for the article. You are so right..the whole thing is about balance. What some of us who dabble in all these fatty acids, and proteins and minerals etc are trying to do is basically "proteomics without a license"...this is where a lot of researchers think we will all be in 10 years..sadly, in my case, uh...I couldn't wait...

Keep up the good research and please KEEP US POSTED,
Gina