Can I get enough EPA/DHA from flax or
other vegetable oils?
Alpha Linolenic acid (LNA or ALA)
derived from flax has a shorter carbon chain and is much less biologically
important than the longer chain fatty acids EPA and DHA. In fact, when LNA from
flax is consumed it has to be converted to EPA and DHA inside the body by
adding carbons and making the chain longer. This requires the action of
enzymes, the most important of which is an enzyme called delta 6 desaturase.
The action of this enzyme determines how much LNA will ultimately be converted
to EPA and DHA.
Research is clear that humans and
other meat consuming animals are genetically designed to consume the longer
chain omega 3 EFAs (EPA and DHA) directly from wild game meat or fish and not
rely on converting LNA from flax. This makes complete sense. Our genetic
ancestors had virtually no flax or other omega 3 rich vegetable sources in
their diets!
Further supporting this are research
studies that show that the delta 6 desaturase enzyme responsible for the rate
of conversion of LNA from flax to EPA and DHA is incapable of doing so in
sufficient amounts even if large amounts of flax oil are consumed. In a recent
study, ALA converted to EPA was only 0.2%, concluding that flax seed oil was
not a good source of EPA and DHA. In another study, the conversion rate of ALA
to EPA and DHA was approximately 6% for EPA and 3.8% for DHA. With a diet rich
in omega-6 fatty acids, conversion is further reduced by 40 to 50%. Other
lifestyle factors including consumption of alcohol, high saturated fat intake,
stress and vitamin/mineral deficiencies can reduce the rate of ALA conversion
even further. Fish oil provides up to 200 times more EPA and DHA per gram than
flax.
Again, this makes sense. Why would
humans or other animals that did not eat flax but did consume large amounts of
EPA and DHA directly from wild game meat and fish be genetically designed to
have an efficient enzyme pathway to convert flax to EPA and DHA? Arguments
trying to convince you that you can get enough EPA and DHA from flax are
genetically unfounded, nutritionally unfounded (humans or our ancestors have
NEVER eaten large amounts of flax) and scientifically unfounded because the
research shows this is not the case. The fact is that flax oil is a healthy
source of LNA but it is not a healthy alternative to fish oil as a source of
EPA and DHA.
Furthermore, and perhaps most
significantly, human breast milk is full of DHA. Scientific research clearly
shows that children born to mothers who are deficient in EPA and DHA omega 3
fatty acids have neurological development impairments. Scientific research also
demonstrates that children born to women who supplement with omega 3 fish oil
like Omega Sufficiency® can avoid these problems. In addition, children who
supplement with EPA and DHA from fish oil like Omega Sufficiency® have been
shown to have less allergies, less eczema, learn better, and be less likely to
have ADD or ADHD.
The data from scientific research
and clinical trials is indisputably clear. Everyone needs to ensure that they
have sufficient amounts of EPA and DHA from fish in their diets. Sadly, eating
fish is not a viable option because of the documented dangerous levels of
pollutants and toxins. Supplementing with Omega Sufficiency®, the world's
premier purified, toxin and pollutant-free omega 3 EPA/DHA fish oil is not only
scientific, it is common sense when it comes to maintaining and/or restoring
your health and preventing disease.
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