Oil for Life to Balance omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ... - Oil4Life

metabolic abnormalities (e.g. lack of Δ-6-desaturase) or peroxidation of membrane
phospholipids.
Red blood cell fatty acid analysis can give information on cellular membrane fatty acid status
and potential error in eicosanoid biosynthesis. Measuring erythrocyte fatty acids for
monitoring dietary fat intake, or as a biomarker of disease risk, is becoming increasingly
common in clinical nutrition. It can be used also as a biomarker for ascertain risks of
diseases such as CVD, diabetes, chronic inflammation, depression.
AA/EPA ratio in total blood is a reliable and low-time consuming assays to establish a fatty
acids balance for dietary advice and in the prevention and control of chronic diseases.
7. Clinical studies at the university of Milan – The development of Oil4Life Balance
The AA/EPA ratio found in healthy Italian subjects without omega-3 supplementation is
high and comparable to data reported for the Western population, indicating an unbalanced
omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid intake leading to a subsequent imbalance in membrane
composition and the eicosanoid biosynthesis. We have also observed that patients with
allergic, skin and neurodegenerative diseases have higher values of the AA/EPA ratio than
other pathological subjects.
Obesity and the control of body weight is influenced not only by the quality and quantity of
food intake, but also by hormonal, metabolic and genetic factors linking obesity to
cardiovascular, inflammatory and endocrine diseases. Diet with low carbohydrate content
and low glycemic index are believed to have beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes. In our
laboratory we have tested two diets with very different percentages of carbohydrate and
protein. The reduced carbohydrate and increased protein concentration in the second diet are
believed to have beneficial effects on type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. A
reduction of body fat was observed in subjects on the last diet. We also found that the
AA/EPA ratio, as measured by Test4Life, correlates with the changes in tryglicerides and
Trg/HDL ratio. The AA/EPA ratio was reduced by both diets, but most strongly by the diet
with a low carbohydrate content. By supplementing the diets with omega-3, the AA/EPA
ratio was greatly decreased. The relationship between AA/EPA and Trg/HDL, observed in
the above experiment, confirms the importance ascribed to the latter parameter in the
prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The omega-3 fatty acids have a
similar effect on lipid metabolism as a low glycemic index diet. In fact the long chain
omega-3 reduce triglycerides, have anti-inflammatory effects, reduce the insulin response to
glucose, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
The free radicals are neutralized by a strong antioxidant defence system consisting of
enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants, including vitamin C (ascorbic acid). When free
radicals are generated they can attack polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane. This
leads to lipid peroxidation, which reduces the membrane fluidity, permeability and
excitability, and promote the formation of hydrocarbon gases and aldehydes such as MDA.
Plasma MDA is a marker of lipid oxidation. The plasma MDA levels in subjects on the two
diets above reported supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids were significantly reduced
compared to basal levels (with a greater decrease in the low carbohydrate diet subjects),
indicating that nutritional status has an important role in preventing lipid peroxidation by
increasing the plasma total antioxidant capacity.
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