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

known to decrease the production of LTB4, a metabolite of arachidonic acid produced by
activated neutrophils. Fish oil supplementation as in Oli4Life Balance offers an opportuinity
in management of psoriasis and inflammatory skin disorders with negligible side effects.
The immune system must be ready to mount acute inflammatory reactions to kill invading
micro-organisms, but it should not be so over-reactive as to create chronic inflammations
which damage the host. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways, which in many
cases is considered to be due to an allergic reaction. The immune system learns to react to
the allergen and starts the chronic inflammatory process. The rate of asthma increases as
communities adopt western lifestyles and become urbanised. Diet is deeply implicated due to
reduced intake of inflammation-damping elements like the flavonoids, sterols and omega 3
fatty acids, and the simultaneous increase in intakes of pro-inflammatory compounds.
Potential therapeutic uses of prostaglandins include relief of asthma. A mixture of
eicosanoids of the 4 series (LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4) is a potent constrictor of the bronchial
airway musculature. They are also important regulators in many diseases involving
inflammatory or immediate hypersensitivity reactions, such as asthma.
The analysis of fatty acid composition of phospholipids in red blood cell (RBC) membranes
allows us to obtain relevant information about diet fatty acids deficiency, eicosanoids
biosynthesis and eventual metabolic abnormalies. However, this marker analysis require a
long lasting procedure. In our laboratory we have developed and tested a time saving and
reliable method to determine AA/EPA and omega-6/omega-3 ratios in whole blood. Our
method of AA/EPA ratio in whole blood demonstrate a good correlation with erythrocyte
phospholipids composition and a significant correlation with the AA/EPA value of RBC
membranes. This reliable biomarker method of dietary fat intake are at present being
commercialised by the Itogha group under the brand name of Test4Life. The AA/EPA ratio
may be considered a predictor of health status for risks of diseases such as cardiovascular
disease (CVD), diabetes, chronic inflammation and depression, as well as an index of wellbeing.
The Test4Life analysis can give information on cellular membrane fatty acid status
and potential error in eicosanoid biosynthesis. Test4Life is a reliable and low-time
consuming assays to establish a fatty acid balance for dietary advice and in the prevention
and control of chronic diseases.
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.
About 7% of children between the ages of 5-11 years have been diagnosed with Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). General consensus is that many genes are involved
in the transmission of the disorder. Diet may be an ethiological risk factor for ADHD.
Abnormalities in PUFA metabolism in red blood cell membranes has been reported in
children with ADHD, having lower levels of long chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA+DHA) in
their blood due to lack of dietary intake in conjunction with a more rapid metabolism. Our
studies have highlighted a deficiency of the long chain omega-3 fatty acids in the membrane
phospholipids of patients affected with ADHD. The AA/EPA-ratio in phospholipids in blood
and in RBC membranes was elevated, indicating an increased upstream inflammatory
potential. In our study of 30 children with ADHD the diet were supplemented with 2.5 mg
3