Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is the precursor of the Series 3 Prostaglandins, hormone-like regulating substances which protect the body from deleterious effects (sticky platelets, high blood pressure, inflammation, water retention, lowered immune function) brought about by Series 2 Prostaglandins, which are made from Arachidonic Acid (AA) an Omega 6 fatty acid derived from excess consumption of animal products. EPA prevents Series 2 Prostaglandins from being made.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is important for the normal functions of brain and nerves, vision and hearing, adrenal function, sperm formation and thromboses, and lower blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels.
There is growing evidence that increased consumption of fish may be beneficial to health. Recent studies have found an association between consumption of fish oil and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as improvements in other health conditions, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Most current research on the benefits of consuming more fish is directed at the effects derived from Omega 3 fatty acids in many fish species. However, studies of human dietary preferences reveal up to one-half of the population may not like to eat fish. Of those people who do eat fish, many prefer fish only when it is deep-fried, or consume non-fatty fish species, which are poor sources of fish oil. This is one reason fish oil capsules and especially Salmon Oil capsules have become popular as an alternative source of fish oil.
Wild Fish Oil capsules supply concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docasahexaenoic acid (DHA). The EPA-DHA rich fish oil is presented in soft gelatin capsules. The gelatin provides an oxygen barrier which prevents the development of toxic lipid peroxides (e.g. malon-dialdehyde).
The fish oils come from cold water ocean salmon. The encapsulated product contains fish oil, not fish liver oil. This distinction is important since fish liver oils contain fat-soluble vitamins A and D, which if taken excessively, have the slight potential of being toxic.
Fish oils depress the synthesis of hepatic fatty acids and triglyerides and the secretion of very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VIDL). One further benefit is EPA displaces arachidonic acid from tissue phospholipids, resulting in Omega-3 essential fatty acid levels inhibiting thromboxane synthesis.
The effect of fish oils are very selective. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) not only displace arachidonic acid and inhibit cyclo-oxygenase, but EPA becomes a substate for cyclo-oxygenase when the peroxide tone is high and is converted to the potent anti-agregatory Pgl-3. It has been suggested these findings may explain the increased bleeding time and the decreased incidence of coronary artery disease, which has been reported in Japanese with high fish consumption and in some Eskimos.
EPA/DHA-rich fish oil has also been found to suppress production of inflammatory agents found in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The anti-inflammatory effect of the Omega-3 fatty acids might be mediated in part by their inhibitory effect on production of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor, both principal mediators of inflammation. In cases of psoriasis vulgaris, fish oils produce symptomatic improvement by effecting changes in levels of the inflammatory leukotriene compounds, especially leukotriene B4. This leukotriene is a lipoxygenation product of the fatty acid arachidonic acid. The EPA in fish oil "replaces" the arachidonic acid in phospholipids, leading to the formation of leukotriene B5, rather than B4. Leukotriene B5 causes a much weaker inflammatory response. Neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of patients given fish oil to treat their psoriasis. Patients whose symptoms improved with fish oil therapy had higher levels of leukotriene B5 than did those patients who showed no improvement.
Fish oil versus Flax oil
There is considerable evidence that fish and fish oils are beneficial to heart health, reduce the risk of cancer, and benefit mental health. The "active" components of fish oils are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid with 20 carbon atoms in its backbone, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid with 22 carbon atoms. Both are members of the omega-3 group of essential fatty acids. EPA and DHA are found exclusively in marine animals; fatty fish such as herring, sardines, salmon and fresh tuna are the best sources.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is another omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed and flaxseed oil. ALA has 18 carbon atoms in its backbone and can be converted to EPA in the body (in the liver) by the addition of two carbon atoms. EPA, in turn, can be converted to DHA. Because the typical American diet is relatively low in fish intake ALA becomes a crucial source of the EPA and DHA required for optimum health.
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have just completed a study designed to determine just how much ALA is actually converted to EPA in the body (1). Their study included eight healthy subjects who were fed a standard diet for three weeks and then given one gram of ALA labeled with an isotope tracer. The diet was beef-based in order to avoid extraneous sources of EPA and DHA. The researchers measured blood plasma concentrations of ALA, EPA and DHA 8, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 hours after ingestion of the labeled ALA.
The results show that only about 0.2 per cent of the ALA (2 mg) was actually converted to EPA. In contrast, about 23 per cent of the EPA was available for conversion to DHA. The researchers also noted that the half-life (the time it takes to reduce initial concentration by 50 per cent) of ALA in blood plasma was quite low at about one hour. In comparison, the half-life of EPA was 67 hours and that of DHA 20 hours.
The researchers conclude that ALA is not a viable source of EPA and DHA and cannot replace fish and fish oils in the diet.
Note: According to this new data a tablespoon of flax oil would only result in the synthesis of about 30 mg of EPA - far less than the recommended daily intake of 220 mg. This study was based on healthy subjects: the ability to convert ALA to EPA is usually impaired in elderly people or in those with metabolic disorders or disease states, so in these cases, much less than 30 mg will be converted.
- Pawlosky, Robert J. Physiological compartmental analysis of alpha-linolenic acid metabolism in adult humans. Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 42, August 2001, pp. 1257-65.
Enerex’s WILD FISH OIL 1000mg capsules provides an excellent source of the Omega 3 essential fatty acid derivatives necessary for membrane functions, prostaglandin production, and cardiovascular health. To obtain a balanced dietary supplementation of both Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids, one WILD FISH OIL 1000 mg capsule should be taken with two EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 1000 mg capsules each day. This will provide the ideal ratio of approximately 1:1 between GLA and EPA/DHA to ensure a correct balance of these important EFA derivatives at the cellular level.
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