Essential Fatty Acid Ratios

by Paul F. Beatty , B.A., B.P.H.E., M.B.A.
EFA’S - Balance and Moderation is the Key

Many people after reading Brian Peskin’s landmark book ‘The Hidden Story of Cancer’ must be wondering if they should be taking fish oils at all. The message here is a crucial one in regards to dietary manipulation of eicosanoids and cell membrane integrity.

Since both Omega 6 & Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids are critical to your health, you should never take too many Omega 3 derivatives (EPA & DHA) by themselves without balancing with Omega 6 derivatives (GLA).

Always remember that Omega 6 and Omega 3’s need to be biologically active to transfer oxygen into the cell from the bloodstream. Processed food and therefore processed fats have lost that capability - so, FRESH is the KEY with FATS, would you eat a fish that had turned rancid!

It is critical to understand the role that the Delta 6 Desaturase Enzyme plays in EFA metabolism. Everyone has only so many of these active enzymes that convert cis linoleic acid (cLA) and Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) into the important EFA derivatives. Both Omega 6 & Omega 3 metabolic chains utilize this same enzyme. If you overwhelm the enzymes with too many Omega 3’s there will be too few left for Omega 6 conversion.

Hair loss, skin dryness and itchiness will result as the body pulls Omega 6’s out of these membranes to satisfy higher priority organ needs. Overwhelming the body with trans fats, too much saturated fat, too much sugar, stress hormones and aging will bring about the same results long term.

As you can see - You are what you eat and you are what you don’t eat! Live Omega 6’s are required by the body more than live Omega 3’s as proven by Dr. David Horrobin. Prostaglandin 1 (PGE 1) is the most important and powerful eicosanoid that we need to balance ourselves.

Unlike Barry Sears (The Zone) who tried to prove good and bad ones - All eicosanoids are critical in balance to our health. His approach was far too simplistic and he ignored environmental and genetic factors that affect the Delta 6 desaturization process - As does Brian Peskin in his book- Although Brian Peskin understands PGE 1 importance.

In closing, take 3 Efamol; Evening Primrose oil (EPO), 1000 mgs to 1 Cod Liver oil 1000 mgs to give the 2: 1 ratio of GLA to EPA - the key EFA (Omega 6 & 3) derivatives. The type of fats and oils that your Grand Parents ate in unadulterated meats, fish, chicken, seeds and nuts etc.

The recently deceased, renowned researcher - Dr. David Horrobin showed us the way. He emphasized balance of Omega 6 & 3’s for their synergy and powerful therapeutic affect. He also warned about the STEREOSPECIFICITY of GLA and other derivatives since the position of the EFA derivative will vary its position in the TRIACYLGLYCEROLS (TAGS) depending on the oil source.

For instance, GLA in EPO is concentrated in the sn-3 position, while in Borage oil it’s in the sn-2 position. This fact has been overlooked by most of the world. The position dramatically affects the eicosanoid outcome, as does the composition of other components of the oil in affecting enzyme utilization.

Stick with what’s proven to maximize PGE 1. 2 parts GLA- from Efamol EPO to 1 part EPA- from Cod Liver oil (equates to 3 Efamol - 1 fish oil). Balance and moderation of EFA’s is key to most diseases of today.

References available on request.

Contact Paul F. Beatty
Tel: (905) 648 6887 Email: efapaul@yahoo.ca
Website: www.lifesavingfats.com

Your Health and Mine