Re: Lowest Omega-6 Oil?

On Apr 14, 6:34 pm, Matti Narkia <m...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
On 14 Apr 2007 09:59:15 -0700, "mike" <mcole8...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:





On Apr 14, 12:20 pm, Matti Narkia <m...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
On 14 Apr 2007 08:52:32 -0700, "Ron Peterson" <r...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Apr 10, 4:19 pm, Matti Narkia <m...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Remember though that olive oil has hardly any omega-3 and that omega-3
in rapeseed oil is alpha-linolenic acid, which humans cannot convert
very efficiently to longer chain omega-3 EPA and DHA. Therefore to
improve your omega-3/omega-6 -ratio you also need to eat some fatty
fish or/and take fish oil.

Yes, ALA isn't converted to EPA and DHA efficiently, but
http://www.poultryscience.org/ps/paperpdfs/00/ps00961.pdfindicates
that ALA does function as a moderator for omega 6 fatty acids.

It says:
"The presence of ALA in the diet can inhibit the conversion of the
large amounts of LA in the
diets of Western industrialized countries that contain too
much dietary plant oils rich in n-6 PUFA (e.g., corn, safflower,
and soybean oils). The increase of ALA, together
with EPA and DHA, and reduction of vegetable oils with
high LA content are necessary to achieve a healthier diet
in these countries."

EPA also inhibits conversion of LA to arachidonic acid (ARA), because
it inhibits the enzyme delta-5-desaturase needed in one step of that
conversion, see the references below. EPA also competes with ARA from
the enzymes COX-2 and 5-LOX, and therefore reduces production of
inflammation mediators from ARA.

I'm a guy, the majority of guys will have latent prostate cancer, if
they live long enough, and evidence from epidemiological studies and
animals tests suggest that ALA may accelerate growth of an existing
prostate cancer. Therefore I try to avoid getting too much ALA, if I
can, because EPA alone can do fairly good job in inhibiting conversion
of LA to ARA _and_ in inhibiting production of inflammation mediators
from ARA.

[snip]

Matti,

First let me take the opportunity to thank you for the excellent
postings i have had the privelige to read over the years. when i see
your name i always read what you have to say and appreciate the
sensible responses backed up with science data.

You're welcome :-).

My question is simply this; what do you consider too much ALA?
Personally I take a teaspoon of flax most days of the week. Olive oil,
salmon and almonds represent my primary fat sources.

I cannot say for sure, because the matter hasn't been researched that
much. Men with existing prostate cancer naturally should be careful.
On the other hand quite a few elderly men might have latent prostate
cancer without knowing it. Flaxseeds may be safer than flaxseed oil,
because they have some potentially protective substances such as
lignans, fiber, magnesium etc. A little bit rapeseed oil may not be
that bad, if your PSA is not high and you don't have any prostate
symptoms, but I myself no longer take flaxseed oil because of its high
ALA content. You said that you take flax. If you meant flaxseeds, the
amount you take may be ok, but if you meant flaxseed oil, perhaps
you'd want to consider switching to flaxseeds (or quitting flax
altogether) or taking rapeseed oil (which has much less ALA than
flaxseed oil) instead.

Olive oil, salmon and almonds are excellent food items and sources of
good fat.

--
Matti Narkia- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

It is flax oil that I take, not the seed. The seed is so high in
phytoestrogens that I am wary of it. Walnuts are also a good source of
ALA which I have used on occasion for ALA and presumably with co-
factors present that may make it a more balanced approach than flax
oil. Although it does contain a relatively high amount of omega 6
compared to the flax. The Lyon heart study used a margarine that
provided about 1.8 gms of ALA daily and the outcomes were pretty
remarkable wrt to overall mortality.

Thanks,

Mike C.

.

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