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

eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5, omega-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6,
omega-3). However, in the presence of high levels of plasma LA the preference may be
shifted towards the omega-6 pathway. Thus, an omega-6 rich diet of plant oils may lead to
depleted levels of EPA and DHA in the plasma, although the minimum levels to prevent
disease is obtained. Dermatitis is consistently the first sign of PUFA deficiency in both
animals and humans. The early diet contained small, but approximately equal amounts of
omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, whereas the modern Western diet today contains an excess
of omega-6. This imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 has been associated with increased risks
of cardiovascular disease and some cancers, including carcinoma of the breast. The increased
risk of breast cancer in Japanese women over the past four decades correlates with an
increased imbalance of dietary omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.
The amount and type of dietary fats play a crucial and well-documented role on plasma lipid
concentration. In the Mediterranean countries the population have been adviced to improve
plasma lipid levels by shifting from a diet based on olive oil, rich in monounsaturated fat, to
a diet based on corn oil, rich in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA; omega-3 and omega-6). We have
studied the variations induced on plasma lipid levels by shifting back to the olive oil based
diet. Substitution of corn oil with olive oil does not cause hazards as far as haemostatic
functions, lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol are concerned, except for a mild elevation of
total cholesterol. In subjects using the olive oil diet we observed over a six-month period a
consistent decrease in LDL cholesterol and an increase in HDL cholesterol levels. We
concluded that it is not worthwhile to change compulsorily olive oil to corn oil or other
vegetable oils rich in PUFA.
3. The cell membrane – composition and function
The membrane of our trillions of cells physically separates the intracellular components from
the extracellular environment, provide shape to the cell, and help group cells together in the
formation of tissues. Special phospholipids are required for specific membrane structures
such as curved regions and junctions with adjacent membranes. The movement of water,
nutrients and waste across the membrane can be either passive or active (energy required).
The arrangement of hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails in the lipid bilayer allow the
cell to control the movement of substances via transmembrane protein complexes such as
pores and gates. Specific proteins embedded in the cell membrane act as molecular signals
that allow cells to communicate with each other and the environment. Proteins on the surface
of the cell membrane serve as "markers" that identify a cell to other cells. These markers
forms the basis of cell to cell interaction in the immune system.
The fatty acid present in membrane lipids come from the diet. The cell membrane contains
three classes of amphipathic lipids, phospholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol. Phospholipids
are normally the most abundant with a hydrophilic head and generally one saturated fatty
acid and one polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-6 or omega-3) as the hydrophobic tails. The
length and the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids chains have a profound effect on
membranes fluidity. Unsaturated lipids create a kink, preventing the fatty acids from packing
tightly together, thus increasing the fluidity of the membrane facilitating the exchanges of
substances. Phospholipids made exclusively of saturated fatty acids will result in a very
“dense” membrane, which will not allow physiological exchanges. Cell cholesterol is
normally located between the hydrophobic tails providing stiffening and strengthening
effects that reduce the membranes fluidity.
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