The Omega Balance:
Omega3 Miracle
- By Stephen Holt, M.D.

Modern nutritional concepts point towards the importance of the omega-6 to omega-3 balance in health maintenance. Omega-6 fatty acids are abundant in Western diets and these fats are health-giving only when consumed in the correct ratio with omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA It is not uncommon for the average dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids to be in the ranges of 10 to I or more. Scientific precedent implies that a ratio of close as possible as 1 to 1 is more desirable for health. Understanding the cascade of compounds that are synthesized from essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids) is a task for even the most informed health care giver. The most common types of omega 6 fatty acids are the precursor molecules linoleic acid and its end products of arachidonic acid and adrenic acid. Arachidonic acid (omega-6) and EPA (omega-3) are the main "intermediary" precursors of hormones and complex compounds called eicosanoids of which prostaglandins and leukotrienes are common examples.

The eicosanoids signal a wide variety of body functions including blood clotting, inflammation and blood pressure regulation. Linolenate is the omega-3 fatty acid precursor found in some plants, such as, soybeans flax and canola, and it can be used by mammalian tissues to generate the eicosanoid EPA, which can be converted to DHA. Eicosapentanoic acid tends to result in the production of prostaglandins of types that are anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting in their actions. In simplified terms, EPA (an active omega-3 fatty acid) pushes the balance of production of lipid mediators towards more "friendly" types of elcosanoids and resulting prostaglandins, compared to arachidonic acid omega6 fatty acid). EPA is an anti-inflammatory.

There is no crossover between the pathways of metabolism active omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which are generated from linoleic and ilnolenic acid respectively. However, the relative amounts of generated eiosanoids do exert influences on each other. Thus, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids generate signaling compounds (lipid mediators or eicosanoids) with widely differing properties and actions on body structure and function. When the omega balance is "out of whack," many body functions may change for the worse.

EPA: The Emperor of Fatty Acids
Much interest has focused on the omega-3 fatty acid EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) because of its vital role in balancing favorable eicosanoid production. The acid EPA is readily converted to DFIA, which is found in large amounts in cell membranes, especially in the nervous system and EPA is an effective inhibitor of the genesis of "undesirable" forms of eicosanoids from arachidonic acid. EPA is an antiinflammatory principle.

There are many genes involved in the body chemistry of fats (lipid metabolism) and sugars (carbohydrates metabolism). The active omega-6 and 3 types of fatty acids (not linoleic and linolenic acid precursors) control the expression of genes that alter body lipids. Active types of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids regulate more than ten different types of genes involved in lipid metabolism or energy production. Of major importance are a group of genetic controls related to specific receptors. (e.g. PPAR or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors that regulate the function of insulin) Evidence has favorably affect the PPAR (receptor complex), which is involved in insulin action, carbohydrate metabolism and lipid chemistry. Thus, EPA has emerged as a very important way of combating insulin resistance through its beneficial regulation of certain components of PPAR receptors. EPA (found in fish oil) appears to be a natural and high concentrations in special types of antidotes to insulin resistance and it is emerging as a first-line option for Syndrome X, with its cardinal components of glucose intolerance, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity.

Conclusion
Omega-3 fatty acids are among the most potent and versatile "biopharmaceuticals" available for the treatment or prevention of many common diseases. The evidence for the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease (e.g. Syndrome X, atheroma, coronary heart disease), disordered immune function and nervous system disorders (e.g. depression and attention deficit disorder) is increasingly clear. While optimal dosages or contents of fish oil concentrates (e.g. ratios of DHA to EPA) are still being defined, Wellness Publishing, Inc. has pioneered the introduction of purified, proprietary fractions of fish oil (especially EPA>50% fractions) as key supplements with wide ranging health benefits. Fish oil supports the heart, the brain, the nerves, the bowel and it may accumulated that lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. The highly active omega-3 concentration of EPA in Dr. Holt's Fish Oil™ supports cellular functions in the body.