|
Omega-3,6,9
1200 mg / 90 capsules |
|
| Ingredients: | |
| Borage Oil 19% GLA : | 400 mg |
| Flax Seed Oil 53% ALA : | 400 mg |
| Fish Oil 30% EPA / 20% DHA : |
400 mg
|
| Dosage : 1 softgel /day |
Nutrisana's Borage/Fish/Flax oil combination - a balanced EFA blend:
Nutrisana's balanced EFA blend is formulated to provide a delicate balance of both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to help meet your daily EFA requirements. There is a greater focus on the omega-3 fatty acids, due to the relatively low levels in the North American diet. Adequate levels of Omega-3 fatty acids are lacking in today's typical diet because they are not abundant in foods that are commonly consumed2. Although linoleic acid is abundant in today's diet, the body may not be able to fully utilize this fatty acid. For this reason, the conditionally essential fatty acid GLA is included in this blend to help achieve adequate omega-6 intake.
Borage Oil/Fish Oil/Flax Oil Combination
Introduction:
Early in the century. there was a deeply rooted belief that dietary fat was necessary for two primary reasons: first, as a carrier of fat soluble nutrients, and second as a concentrated form of energy. In 1929, however, Burr and Burr announced that unsaturated fat was essential, and in 1930 they determined that linoleic acid, and possible other fatty acids, were active1. From this early research, the term "essential fatty acid" was both established and accepted1. In the last seven decades, identification of the therapeutic qualities of essential fatty acids has been an active area of research in human nutrition. It is becoming increasingly clear the critical role that essential fatty acids play in the maintenance of good health.The importance of prostaglandin to health is well known (see text on primrose oil). There are three types of prostaglandin: PG1, PG2 and PG3. These sometimes play antagonistic roles in regulating sexual hormones and protecting the cardiovascular system. Our typical diet, which is very rich in animal fats, promotes production of PG2 in large quantities, thereby giving rise to an imbalance among the three types of prostaglandin. Given this imbalance, it may prove useful to supplement the diet with essential fatty acids capable of promoting the synthesis of PG1 and PG3 by the body.
For example, gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, which is present in borage oil, and linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which come from flax, is a precursor of type 1 prostaglandin synthesis (PG1). Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), present in fish oil, gives rise to type 3 prostaglandin (PG3).
Nutrisana's OMEGA 3-6-9, is the ultimate balanced combination of essential fatty acids. It will provide you with enough nutritional supplements to protect you from the effects of any imbalance that may arise among the three types of prostaglandin. Each capsule contains no less than 76 mg GLA, 212 mg ALA, 206 mg LA, 120 mg EPA and 80 mg DHA. (The mixture is immersed in high quality oil). This is enough to ensure your daily maintenance dose of essential fatty acids, and simultaneously protects your hormonal system, your arteries and your heart.
Overview of Essential Fatty Acids:
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAS) are termed "essential" because the body cannot produce them, and must therefore be obtained from the diet. EFAs are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), of which there are two classes - Omega-6 and Omega-3. The most important PUFAs for human nutrition in each series are as follows:
| Omega-6: | ||
| Linoleic Acid (LA) | C18:2n6 | |
| Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) | C1S:3n6 | |
| Dihomogamma Linolenic Acid (OGLA) | C20:3n6 | |
| Arachidonic Acid (AA) | C20:4n6 |
| Omega-3: | ||
| Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) | C18:3n3 | |
| Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) | C20:5n3 | |
| Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) | C22:6n3 |
Of these two classes. only LA of the omega-6 series and ALA of the omega-3 series are considered "essential". The remaining PUFAs can be considered "conditionally essential" because, under normal conditions, they can be derived from the metabolism of LA (if an omega-6 fatty acid) or ALA (if an omega-3 fatty acid) in the following pathways:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
D-6-D
Function of Essential Fatty Acids:
Both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are stored in the cell membranes of tissues, and have two primary functions. First they are structural components of cell membranes where they ensure fluidity, stability, and act as gate-keepers in the cells. Their presence in membranes also helps to ensure the integrity of the epidermal layer of the skin and regulate moisture loss. Second, within the cell membrane, they serve as substrates for the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LO) which convert the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids into a number of important, very active, short-lived, hormone-like compounds reterred to as eicosanoids. The eicosanoids are twenty carbon compounds and include prostaglandins (PG), thromboxanes CYX), and leukotrienes (LT). Ekosanoids influence numerous metabolic activities including platelet aggregation (blood cloning), inflammation, haemorrhage, vasoconstrialon and vasodilation, as well as blood pressure and immune function. The omega-6 and omega-3 metabolic pathways are linked in that they both com pete for the same desaturase and elongase enzymes However, these enzymes appear to give preference to the omega-3 pathway over the omega-6. It is also important to note that these two classes of PUFAs are metabolically and functionally distinct because they exert opposing physiological functions3. For this reason, it is highly important that balances of both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are consumed.Importance of an optimal omegaE6:omega-3 fatty acid balance:
A number of sources indicate that man evolved on a diet that consisted of a 1:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids3. Currently, the typical Western diet consists of a 10:1 - 25:13 ratio, and maybe as high as 40:1. This elevated ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 results in an imbalance between these two classes. This high ratio is due in part to the development of the modern "vegetable oil" industry, which has dramatically increased the omega-6 intake in the form of linoleic acid; coupled with the discovery of hydrogenation, which has dramatically decreased the alpha linolenic acid component of vegetable oils. It is critical that this disturbance in EFA balance is corrected via the consumption of appropriate amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. In addition. due to the opposing effects of the omega-6 and omega-3 families, an optimal balance is important to achieve both homeostasis and normal development3. A ratio of 4:1 of omega-6 to omega-3 has been recommended as an "optimum functional ratio"2.Impairment of Delta 6 Desaturase (D6D) enzyme: In addition to the above mentioned imbalance, another concern is that of inefficient D6D enzyme activity. In humans D6D is the initial and rate limiting enzyme in both the omega-6 and omega-3 metabolic pathways (see figure 1 and figure 2). Although adequate intakes of both LA and ALA may occur, the body may be unable to utilize these fatty acids due to this impairment. D6D activity may be impaired genetically, or by factors such as:
| High dietary intake of Linoleic Acid | Alcohol consumption |
| Aging | High dietary trans-fatty acid intake |
| High dietary cholesterol and tatry' acid intake | Disease conditions (ie. diabetes) |
| Low levels of enzyme co-factors |
Due to the possible impairment of the D6D enzyme, it is necessary that an adequate amount of the "conditionally essential" omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, that bypass this limiting D6D enzyme, are consumed4. Specifically, GLA, EPA and DHA should be consumed in addition to the "essential fatty acids" LA and ALA.
Nutrisana's Borage/Fish/Flax oil combination - a balanced EFA blend:
Nutrisana's balanced EFA blend is formulated to provide a delicate balance of both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to help meet your daily EFA requirements. There is a greater focus on the omega-3 fatty acids, due to the relatively low levels in the North American diet. Adequate levels of Omega-3 fatty acids are lacking in today's typical diet because they are not abundant in foods that are commonly consumed2. Although linoleic acid is abundant in today's diet, the body may not be able to fully utilize this fatty acid. For this reason, the conditionally essential fatty acid GLA is included in this blend to help achieve adequate omega-6 intake.Borage oil - is the richest plant source of the important omega-6 fatty acid GLA. GLA bypasses the D6D enzyme to help achieve adequate omega-6 intake. GLA has been the center of many areas of research, showing positive effects in areas such as cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol), diabetes, immune system, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and skin function (atopic eczema and psoriasis).
Fish oil - is a rich source of both EPA and DMA. The positive effects of EPA and DHA have been documented in areas such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, pregnancy and infant brain development, and cancer.
Flax oil - is the richest plant source of the omega-3 fatty acid ALA. The positive effects of ALA have been well documented in areas such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, immune function, and cancer.
References:
1. Holtman, R.T., (1988). George O. Burr and the Discovery of Essential Fatty Acids.
J Nutr. 118:535-540.2. Holman, R.T., (1998). The Slow Discovery of the Importance of w3 Essential Fatty Acids in Human Health. J. Nutr. 128:427S-433S.
3. Sirnopoulos. A.P., (1991). Omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease and in growth and development. Am J Clin Nutr. 54:438-63.
4. Spielmann, D. et. al. (1988). Alternative Lipids to usual n6 PUFAS: Gamma Linolenic Acid, Alpha tinolenic Acid, Stearidonic Acid, EPA, Etc. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.
Vol.12(6) pp 111S - 123S.
All material and information presented by Nutrisana.com is intended to be used for educational purposes only. The statements made about products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (U.S.). They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. Please consult with your own physician or health care practitioner regarding the suggestions and recommendations made at Nutrisana.com.
Copyright © 1998-2000 Nutrisana International inc., all rights reserve