Re: Vegetable sources of Omega-3, vs fish.

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On 21 Mar 2006 09:08:26 -0800, "Adam Becker Sr"
<adam_becker_sr@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Quentin wrote:
Forget about omega-3. If you eat greens and walnuts you will get
plenty of the type that reduces the incidence of heart attacks. The
omega-3 from fish doesn't appear to be nearly as effective.

Gee, really? Everything I've read seems to say just the reverse - that
EPA and DHA (the fish oil omega-3s) are used directly, but that
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 n-3) has to go through two
desaturations and an elongation to be effective. (And that the first
desaturation step may be weak and inadequate, esp in older men.)

G'day G'day Adam,

Darn. I was reluctant to post this information. I'd like to leave
some surprises for the book. On the other hand I like to be up front
and share the information out there without bias.

Most people who know some chemistry will agree with your analysis.
The conversion process through from ALA to EPA and DHA is inefficient.
It takes a couple of weeks to establish the right enzymes to do the
process. Even then the conversion rate is very low. With diabetics it
gets worse. High insulin interceders with the process. Trans fat
interferes with the process etc.

That is, if by 'effective' we mean a serving as a source for the
anti-inflammatory eicosanoids, reducing the deposition of aretrial
plaque and making the plaque more stable. I *have* read suggestions
that ALA may have some cardioprotective effects beyond serving as a
source of EPA. But I haven't seen anything that says it's better than
EPA.

That is the point, the whole point. Fish eating isn't as strongly
associated with decreased deaths by cardiovascular disease as we'd
like. Eating greens high in ALA is. There is something else
happening that is more important than producing anti-inflammatory
eicosanoids. I haven't a clue what it is. Since we all bet our lives
on what we eat, I'm choosing to do both. Eat greens for the ALA. Eat
fish for a lot of other stuff besides the EPA and DHA, as well as the
EPA and DHA. I don't expect the fish eating to reduce my risk of
heart attacks but I do expect the greens to roughly halve the risk.

Tell me more!

Thanks
Adam Becker

Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ /
New Zealand, >#,#< [
/ \ /\
"... and the blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
.

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