AA/ EPA ratio

Gentlefolk,

I had the blood test as per Dr Sears and was unpleasantly surprised to find I was 4.9 instead of the range 1.5-3.0.

I am more than doubling my liquid omega-3 s to around 4 tablespoons a day which per the Natures Answer label will give me around 5-6 g Omega 3 a day.

No problem with having even more but is there a healthy limit ?

By the way any comments on Natures Answer as a product ?

Thanks

Alex

Alex - Here's a past post on this topic and the guidelines offered by Barry Sears, PhD.




Jackie
Re: importance of omega-3 EFA balance with Omega-6 EFA in cancer, cardiology and etc
December 20, 2009 10:31AM

On this topic and for new readers, Hans wrote long ago about the importance of Omega 3s [www.oilofpisces.com]

Some years ago, Barry Sears, PhD and author of several of the "Zone" series books, authored one about the importance of Omega 3s versus 6 or even 9. I attended a mini-seminar in which he presented his views from the book "The Anti-Inflammation Zone." The emphasis is on the problem with the common diet high in Omega 6s and low in the 3s and the resulting problem with Arachidonic Acid production and "Silent Inflammation."

All Functional Medicine professionals indicate that increasing Omega 3s is vitally important to overall health and especially cardiac health which speaks to the "silent inflammation factor." My own FM MD suggested I take between 4 and 6 grams daily of a pharmaceutical grade, molecularly distilled (pure) product. I've done so for almost 10 years. It is one of the core supplements on my list of "must have daily."

A review of Dr. Sears' work is here: [www.drsears.com]

For those who weren't reading back in 2004, here are my notes from the mini-seminar by Dr. Sears.
Jackie


Part V Silent Inflammation - Barry Sears, Stephen Sinatra.
This is from the A4M convention (2004) - this section was on "Treating the Difficult Patient"

There was one group of presenters talking on Inflammation. I sat in on Barry Sears, PhD (of The Zone fame) and the last portion of Stephen Sinatra, MD. Dr. Sinatra gave an abbreviated version the handout I've reproduced for you here. It's like a mini book -loaded with nuggets of importance and was originally presented at another conference. I was elated to find it in my handouts.

Thought you like to print it for reading at quiet times over the holidays. Food for thought, for sure. Motivation for making new resolutions for the coming year. Happy Reading!

Jackie

Dr. Sears' talk was "Does Silent Inflammation Make Medicine an Art instead of a Science?" Dr. Sinatra covers this in detail below so I'll only give you some nuggets from Dr. Sears and leave the rest to your reading. Dr. Sears new book The Anti Inflammatory Zone is one to consider owning.

He emphasized that testing for the ratio of Arachidonic Acid (AA) and EPA is the most precise marker of Silent Inflammation (SI). it is a predictor decades before diseases manifest. Early detection and prevention.
For inflammation as in the case of NSAIDS using the correct dosage is critical. He says that as many people die from side effects of NSAIDS as from AIDS.

We must practice "dietary endocrinology" Glucagon is the Mobilizing Hormone; Eicosanoids are master hormones. Anti-inflammatory diets control Eicosanoids.

Everyone should be checked for fasting Insulin. Average is 10 and idea is less than 5. If elevated, people have a 5-fold increase of likelihood of dying from heart disease.

We must lose fat. Fat cells generate inflammation. Obesity has produced an epidemic of inflammation.

Pediatric concerns indicate higher BMI's and equivalent higher CRP ( inflammation marker)

Elevated insulin increases hunger.

The best diet is a balanced diet (Dr. Sinatra discusses below) because too much protein increases ketosis which increases cortisol which increases insulin.

The brain needs adequate blood glucose and if you don't put complex carbs in the diet, the body breaks down muscle to get glucose.

He said the Zone Diet to control insulin is easy. Cut back on grains and starches. Look at your plate the low-fat protein portion should be no bigger than the size of your palm and no thicker. The rest of the plate should be filled with veggies and fruits and a small quantity of monosaturated fat.

Insulin and EPA - EPA is an inhibitor.
We need to avoid making Arachidonic Acid this is most toxic. Inhibit Cox enzymes with high dose EPA fish oils.
[aside:
1. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, omega-6 increase inflammation.
2. Omega-3 fatty acids are antithrombotic, omega-6 increase blood clotting.
3. Omega-3 are non-immunoreactive, omega-6 are immunoreactive.
Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid but no EPA and DHA.
Fish oil contains primarily EPA and DHA ]

He says fish oils act the same as statins.

One of the most well known studies, the GISSI-3 {Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardio (GISSI)-Prevenzione}, in which 11,324 people were given 1gram of omega-3 fatty acids or control for 24 months. This large study showed that persons given omega-3 fatty acid supplements had a 45% decrease in risk of sudden cardiac death and a 20% reduction in all-cause mortality.

[GISSI-Prevenzione Investigators. Dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E after myocardial infarction: results of the GISSI-Prevenzione trial. Lancet 1999;354:447-55. ] [www.ajcn.org]

Fish oil crosses the Blood Brain Barrier.
In Bipolar cases, people given 9 grams fish oil a day showed 500% improvement. This is close to a medical miracle. In the Omega 3s, the EPA is anti-inflammatory and the DHA supports the brain.
He says: use fish oil rather than eating fish. All fish are contaminated they eat from the "sewer of the sea."

Daily Dosing: Total EPA/DHA Omega 3 Fish oil.
2.5 grams for Wellness - Omega 3 and a TBS of cod liver oil
5 gms daily to improve heart function and if diabetic
7.5 grams - to reduce pain and inflammation
10 - 25 grams for neurological diseases.

Fish oil has no impact on Coumadin. He says studies up to 16 grams a day show anti-clotting action the same as 1 aspirin a day.

We must test for AA/EPA ratio- which should be 1.5 and 3 respectively.
Called Isolated Plasma Phospholipids.

To use fish oils in elevated doses, it is important to do testing. This is not a guessing game. It will take 7 - 14 days to make a biochemical difference and this is a lifetime commitment - the taking of Omega 3 fish oils.

Borage oil is a toxic nutrient as it goes right to AA the very thing we are trying to avoid.

Lancet: Eskimos haemorrhagic stroke study [journals.cambridge.org]
End of Sears notes ( I did not include the Sinatra notes. )

Source: [www.afibbers.org]

Did I read that right...that you can take up to 16 GRAMS of fish oil a day with Coumadin?

If so, does that mean one could safely take 4-5 grams per day while on the newer blood thinners? I'm currently on Eliquis for my ablation but I cut way back on my fish oil - only 2 grams per day. Can I safely double that?

Travis

Travis - Coumadin works on a different clotting mechanism/pathway compared to the new OACs such as Eliquis ...ie, Coumadin works on the vitamin K clotting mechanism pathway.

I have not been able to find verification about compatibility with Eliquis and Omega 3 fish oil. Thus, I continue to take what seems to be compatible in my body... but I'm holding my dosing to 3 - 4 grams a day until I learn that more would be safe.

Jackie

Hi Travis,

And welcome back to this side of the fence after your ablation in Austin this morning, though you are still likely just waking in recovery as I type this.

In any event, don't go taking 16 grams of Omega 3, that can also place a large antioxidant need burden on the body too as it is important to take a robust dose of fat soluble antioxidant like high quality natural mixed tocopherol Vitamin E made by "Unique E" brand and/or resveratrol and Liposperic Vitamin C called "Lypo-C' each day with the Omega 3 doses spread out.

Also with that load of fat intake many will need to take significant doses of the enzyme 'Lipase' along with the Omega 3 to avoid the 'Seventy-Six Trombones' syndrome of too much gas and flatulence with large doses of Omega three when a person also has any fat assimilation and absorption issues as so many of us have.

Shannon