Oil for Life to Balance omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ... - Oil4Life
Oil for Life to Balance omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ... - Oil4Life
Oil for Life to Balance omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ... - Oil4Life
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known <strong>to</strong> decrease the production of LTB4, a metabolite of arachidonic acid produced by<br />
activated neutrophils. Fish oil supplementation as in Oli4<strong>Life</strong> <strong>Balance</strong> offers an opportuinity<br />
in management of psoriasis and inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry skin disorders with negligible side effects.<br />
The immune system must be ready <strong>to</strong> mount acute inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry reactions <strong>to</strong> kill invading<br />
micro-organisms, but it should not be so over-reactive as <strong>to</strong> create chronic inflammations<br />
which damage the host. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways, which in many<br />
cases is considered <strong>to</strong> be due <strong>to</strong> an allergic reaction. The immune system learns <strong>to</strong> react <strong>to</strong><br />
the allergen and starts the chronic inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry process. The rate of asthma increases as<br />
communities adopt western lifestyles and become urbanised. Diet is deeply implicated due <strong>to</strong><br />
reduced intake of inflammation-damping elements like the flavonoids, sterols and <strong>omega</strong> 3<br />
<strong>fatty</strong> <strong>acids</strong>, and the simultaneous increase in intakes of pro-inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry compounds.<br />
Potential therapeutic uses of prostaglandins include relief of asthma. A mixture of<br />
eicosanoids of the 4 series (LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4) is a potent constric<strong>to</strong>r of the bronchial<br />
airway musculature. They are also important regula<strong>to</strong>rs in many diseases involving<br />
inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry or immediate hypersensitivity reactions, such as asthma.<br />
The analysis of <strong>fatty</strong> acid composition of phospholipids in red blood cell (RBC) membranes<br />
allows us <strong>to</strong> obtain relevant in<strong>for</strong>mation about diet <strong>fatty</strong> <strong>acids</strong> deficiency, eicosanoids<br />
biosynthesis and eventual metabolic abnormalies. However, this marker analysis require a<br />
long lasting procedure. In our labora<strong>to</strong>ry we have developed and tested a time saving and<br />
reliable method <strong>to</strong> determine AA/EPA and <strong>omega</strong>-6/<strong>omega</strong>-3 ratios in whole blood. Our<br />
method of AA/EPA ratio in whole blood demonstrate a good correlation with erythrocyte<br />
phospholipids composition and a significant correlation with the AA/EPA value of RBC<br />
membranes. This reliable biomarker method of dietary fat intake are at present being<br />
commercialised by the I<strong>to</strong>gha group under the brand name of Test4<strong>Life</strong>. The AA/EPA ratio<br />
may be considered a predic<strong>to</strong>r of health status <strong>for</strong> risks of diseases such as cardiovascular<br />
disease (CVD), diabetes, chronic inflammation and depression, as well as an index of wellbeing.<br />
The Test4<strong>Life</strong> analysis can give in<strong>for</strong>mation on cellular membrane <strong>fatty</strong> acid status<br />
and potential error in eicosanoid biosynthesis. Test4<strong>Life</strong> is a reliable and low-time<br />
consuming assays <strong>to</strong> establish a <strong>fatty</strong> acid balance <strong>for</strong> dietary advice and in the prevention<br />
and control of chronic diseases.<br />
The AA/EPA ratio found in healthy Italian subjects without <strong>omega</strong>-3 supplementation is<br />
high and comparable <strong>to</strong> data reported <strong>for</strong> the Western population, indicating an unbalanced<br />
<strong>omega</strong>-6/<strong>omega</strong>-3 <strong>fatty</strong> acid intake, leading <strong>to</strong> a subsequent imbalance in membrane<br />
composition and the eicosanoid biosynthesis. We have also observed that patients with<br />
allergic-, skin- and neurodegenerative diseases have higher values of the AA/EPA ratio than<br />
other pathological subjects.<br />
About 7% of children between the ages of 5-11 years have been diagnosed with Attention<br />
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). General consensus is that many genes are involved<br />
in the transmission of the disorder. Diet may be an ethiological risk fac<strong>to</strong>r <strong>for</strong> ADHD.<br />
Abnormalities in PUFA metabolism in red blood cell membranes has been reported in<br />
children with ADHD, having lower levels of long chain <strong>omega</strong>-3 <strong>fatty</strong> <strong>acids</strong> (EPA+DHA) in<br />
their blood due <strong>to</strong> lack of dietary intake in conjunction with a more rapid metabolism. Our<br />
studies have highlighted a deficiency of the long chain <strong>omega</strong>-3 <strong>fatty</strong> <strong>acids</strong> in the membrane<br />
phospholipids of patients affected with ADHD. The AA/EPA-ratio in phospholipids in blood<br />
and in RBC membranes was elevated, indicating an increased upstream inflamma<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
potential. In our study of 30 children with ADHD the diet were supplemented with 2.5 mg<br />
3