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THE IMPACT OF ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
ON THE AGING PROCESS (5)
Rashid Buttar, D. O. and Andrew Halpner, Ph. D.
In a side note, this author believes that the diagnosis of "hypoglycemia" is, in actuality, a hyper-insulinemic state caused by inadequate omega-3 FA consumption. It is also important to note that not all omega-3 FAs have been shown to increase cell membrane sensitivity to the effects of insulin. For example, supplementing omega-3 FAs from flaxseed oil did not increase the omega-3 FA in the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes.
In addition to the contribution of EFAs to the physical structure of cell membranes, EFAs are involved in many regulatory processes.
Over the last 25 years, advances in clinical nutrition, due to the efforts of scientists such as Horrobin, have suggested that EFA supplementation not only promotes glucose control in diabetic patients, but helps treat many other conditions, too. These include inflammation, compromised nerve conduction, neurological development, and vascular function.
Modulation of the inflammatory response
EFAs acts as precursors for the formation of eicosanoids, which include prostaglandins, thromboxanes, cytokines, and leukotrienes. These short-lived compounds, with autocrine and paracrine functions, are able to regulate numerous aspects of a cell's activity. Research has shown that eicosanoids are involved in an extraordinary number of physiological and pathological processes. These include, but are not limited to, inflammation, immune function, and vascular health.
Eicosanoids also appear to be involved in pathology associated with many degenerative diseases. One example is the cytokines (especially interleukin-1). Activated macrophages and T-lymphocytes release cytokines, which have been shown to both inhibit insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta cell, and induce beta cell degradation. The cellular mechanism responsible for the inhibition of the beta cells has been identified: Nitric oxide inactivates mitochondrial enzymes, which are produced during the inflammatory process. Figure 3 shows the pathways for the formation of various eicosanoids from their precursor fatty acids.
Many factors influence the complex production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These factors include the availability and type of fatty acids present in cellular membranes. It is not the purpose of this chapter to explain the actions of each individual eicosanoid. However, it is important to note the important physiologic actions exerted by eicosanoids, and the role that EFAs play in their regulation.
Defining inflammation
Inflammation is characterized by pain, redness, and swelling. These symptoms result from the presence of inflammatory mediators that enter a specific area. Important among inflammatory mediators are certain prostaglandins (PGE2); leukotrienes (LTB4), which are derived from AA metabolism; and the cytokines interleukin 1b (IL-1 b) and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a). |