Many of us are deficient in what are called essential fatty acids. Just like essential vitamins and minerals, certain fatty acids cannot be made by the body, and can only be obtained in your diet. Essential fatty acids are incorporated into all of your cellular membranes, and are essential for the myriad of functions they perform. They are divided into omega3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. Food processing, with products such as margarine, destroys the structure of these fatty acids creating what are called "trans" fatty acids whixh can actually be toxic. Medicinal oils come from flaxseed, evening primrose, borage and black currant as well as fish. Flaxseed oil is the world's richest source of omega-3 fatty acids and contains two times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as fish oil by weight. On the other hand, people in states of nutritional deficiency or suffering from diabetes, asthma, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, alcoholism and as well as the aged, may lack the necessary enzyme to metabolize the dietary essential fatty. They need to be converted to EPA and DHA. In these circumstances, a natural stable fish oil is a good alternative. It should be consumed with vitamin E to avoid the slight increases in glucose that can occur with fish oils The integrity of medicinal oils is exquisitely sensitive to the manufacturing process with the production of potentially toxic compounds with exposure to excessive heat, light or oxygen. Hexane, super critical fluid extraction and even "cold pressed" processes can destroy the EFA's. Expeller pressing and modified atmospheric packing are the two best processes. Barlean's essential oils are produced with critical attention to manufacturing criteria.

Medicinal oils contain gamma-linolenic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid and alpha-linolenic acid, an omega three fatty. Evening primrose oil, black currant and borage are high in omega 6 fatty acids and flaxseed oil is high in omega three fatty acids. The omega three fatty acids lead to the "favorable" prostaglandin three series of compounds and less inflammatory leukotrienes while the omega six fatty acids lead to the "unfavorable" prostaglandin two series and inflammatory leukotrienes. The rate-limiting factor in the metabolism to EPA and DHA is the activity of the enzyme delta6-desaturase. Hundreds of scientific studies have examine the benefits of fish oils with over 50 studies alone examining natural, stable fish oil, in particular. Commercial refinement of fats, oil products and foods, a pervasive condition in this country, has effectively eliminated essential fatty acids from our food as well as created toxic hydrogenated, saturated and trans isomer compounds. Fatty acids are essential elements of phospholipids that compose all cellular membranes. The incorporation of saturated or trans fatty acids into cell membranes reduce their fluidity and alter membrane function. This results in cell injury and death. In addition to their importance in cell membranes, essential fatty acids (EFA) are important for prostaglandin synthesis, compounds which mediate dozens of bodily processes. Many studies show that EFA lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reduce platelet stickiness explaining their benefit in cardiovascular disease. Altering dietary essential fatty acid intake can decrease the proinflammatory prostaglandins explaining its benefit in allergic and inflammatory conditions. Omega 3 fatty acids are important to the structure and function of mylein explaining its use in multiple sclerosis. Flaxseed oil contains lignans that have anti-cancer effects. They bind to estrogen receptors explaining the decreased incidence of breast cancer in women who have higher lignan levels in their urine.

INDICATIONS: There are numerous applications of essential fatty acids including cancer (1,2), cardiovascular disease (3), allergic and inflammatory conditions (4), multiple sclerosis (5,6), and immune system modulation (7).

DOSAGE: One to two tablespoons per day is recommended, or the equivalent in opaque capsules. The product should be contained in opaque plastic containers.

1. (Serraino M and Thompson LU, Flaxseed supplementation and early markers of colon carcinogenesis. Cancer Letters 63, 159-165, 1992

2. Rose DP and Hatala MA, Dietary fatty acids and breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Nutr Cancer 21, 103-111, 1994

3. deLorgeril M, et al., Mediterranean alpha-linolenic acid-rich diet in secondary prevention of heart disease. Lancet 343, 1454-1459, 1994

4. Levanthal LJ, et al., Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gamma linolenic acid. Annals Int Med 119, 867-873, 1993

5. Bates D, Fawcett PRW, Shaw DA, and Weightman D, Polyunsaturated fatty acids in treatment of acute remitting multiple sclerosis. Br Med J ii, 1390, 1391, 1978

6. Esparza ML, Saski S and Kesteloot H, Nutrition, latitude and multiple sclerosis: An ecological study. Am J Epidemiol 142, 733-737, 1995

7. Kelley DS, Alpha-linolenic acid and immune response. Nutrition 8, 215-217, 1992)

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