Omega Metabolism and Metabolite Research
- Australians are not Meeting the Recommended Intakes for Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu8030111
- Understanding of Oxylipins Derived from Dietary PUFAs https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26374175/
- Bioavailability and Potential Uses of Vegetarian Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A Review of the Literature, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2011.596292
- Fish can contain micro plastics leading to endocrine disruption. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319147852_Microplastic_pollution_a_threat_to_marine_ecosystem_and_human_health_a_short_review
- Fish also contain dioxins, PCBs and heavy metals, particularly mercury. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hannu-Kiviranta-2/publication/41149207_Dioxins_polychlorinated_biphenyls_methyl_mercury_and_omega-3_polyunsaturated_fatty_acids_as_biomarkers_of_fish_consumption/links/5419c8980cf2218008bfa025/Dioxins-polychlorinated-biphenyls-methyl-mercury-and-omega-3-polyunsaturated-fatty-acids-as-biomarkers-of-fish-consumption.pdf
- A study of more than 12,000 food and feed samples found that the highest PCB contamination was found in fish and fish oil. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1701
- Certain PCBs have been show to “induce activation of cPLA2-alpha… and a robust release of arachidonic acid release with resulting eicosanoid formation..” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16290172/
- Fish oil may increase prostate cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23843441/
- In a University of Toronto Metherel et al. 2019 study, they showed the increase in plasma EPA following DHA supplementation in humans does not occur via retro-conversion, but instead from a slowed metabolism and/or accumulation of plasma EPA. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31204771/
- The 20- and 22-carbon n-3 PUFAs in particular are precursors to lipid mediators that actively participate in the resolution of inflammation and are associated with the prevention of inflammatory diseases https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3192290/
- In addition, n-3 PUFAs can modulate gene expression of cytokines and adhesion molecules by interacting with the lipid-binding transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and thus also contribute to the modulation of immune and inflammatory responses. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4709838/)
- Due to epigenetic control of converting enzymes through endogenous regulation, it has been shown that conversion of short chain Omega 3s to long chain Omega 3s is up-regulated in those who don’t consume the preformed DHA. “…the precursor-product ratio from plant-derived ALA to circulating long chain n-3 PUFAs was significantly greater in non-fish eaters than in those who ate fish,” wrote the researchers of one study in over 14,000 people “…results suggested that the best conversion rates are by individuals that don’t consume (preformed) DHA” In this study vegans actually had higher levels of DHA- higher ratio of precursor product. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20861171/
- A 2013 by Benton et al. actually showed algae oil supplementation to have deleterious effects on cognition. “A total of 285 young adult females took 400 mg of (Algae) DHA, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, for 50 days. After 50 days, recently acquired information was more likely to be forgotten by those who had consumed (algae oil) DHA (than the placebo).” https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/supplementation-with-dha-and-the-psychological-functioning-of-young-adults/A8EEEE729472F6E6DB6DA9851A8241F4
- In 2021, Patan et al. tested EPA vs DHA supplementation, and found that the EPA cohort improved overall cognitive performance, whilst the DHA group actually declined in cognitive performance, performing worse than placebo. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34113957/
- “There is evidence that DHA synthesized from ALA can meet brain DHA requirements, as animals fed ALA-only diets have brain DHA concentrations similar to DHA-fed animals, and the brain DHA requirement is estimated to be only 2.4–3.8 mg/day in humans.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163782715000223?via%3Dihub
- Oxylipins formed from PUFAs are the main mediators of their beneficial effects in the body. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26374175/
- A study by Zamroziewicz et al. in 2017 showed circulating ALA, SDA and ETE levels to be predictors of fluid intelligence, total grey matter, and frontal neocortex brain integrity in healthy seniors, rather than EPA or DHA. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28492102/
- A 2017 article by Sung et al. showed that both SDA and DHA comparably inhibited nitric oxide produced from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein in macrophages, LPS-stimulated NFκB expression in macrophages and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1007/s11745-017-4278-6
- A 2018 study published in the journal PLEFA, discovered a novel anti-inflammatory metabolite from omega-3 c20:4 ETA. As with SPMs that have already been discovered from EPA, DHA, and DPA, this new metabolite is catalysed by a species of lipoxygenase (5- LO) which produce bioactive lipid mediators of inflammation including leukotrienes and prostaglandins. https://www.plefa.com/article/S0952-3278(18)30189-3/fulltext
- Botanical n-3 18C-PUFAs not only enhance the conversion of dietary GLA to DGLA but also inhibit further conversion of that DGLA to AA. Among the effects noted is that elevated DGLA levels in neutrophils causes a dramatic reduction in LTB4 generation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27083549/
- Researchers of a large ten year study found an inverse correlation of omega-6 linoleic acid (LA) and gamma linolenic acid (GLA) levels with all-cause mortality, and most strongly with GLA levels in those with chest pain or myocardial ischemia. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/2/799
- IL-10 is one of the body’s natural tools to help quench excess inflammation after infection or strenuous exercise. That Ahiflower oil stimulates IL-10 production harnesses the body’s natural anti-inflammatory mechanism for achieving greater immune and exercise fitness benefits. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372924/
Ahiflower Research
1st human clinical trial
- Ahiflower is safe at 10 grams/day & leads to tissue accrual of EPA up to 4X more efficiently than flaxseed oil. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26793308/
2nd human clinical trial
- Showed significant increases in omega-3 ETA (c20:4) and DPA (c22:5) found at all dose levels.
- Showed significant increase (+40%) IL-10 in LPS-stimulated monocytes
in whole blood after 28 days. Novel finding in SDA-rich omega oils. - Ahiflower oil is safe in humans at all dosing
levels in study.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372924/ - Metherel AH, Cisbani G, Klievik BJ, Cumberford G, Bazinet RP. Determining plasma and tissue DHA turnover from Ahiflower® oil, flaxseed oil and DHA using compound-specific isotopic analysis. In: ISSFAL Congress Lipid/Fatty Acid Metabolism Poster Session. 2021
- University of Alberta study published in the AJCN shows Ahiflower IL-10 upregulation driving enhanced immunity and hepatic insulin sensitivity function while eliminating gut endotoxins caused by pathogenic gut bacteria in TPN. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/116/6/1805/6724385?redirectedFrom=fulltext