Essential fatty acids: omega-3

Omega 3: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) promote the production of the series 3 prostaglandins which have been experimentally shown to be anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic; eicosapentaenoic acid has also been shown to inhibit lipoxygenase activity and therefore decrease levels of the series-4 leukotrienes.

Sources:
* eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): cold water fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines); cod liver oil (caution: can develop vitamin A toxicity if using a product with vitamin A)
* alpha-linolenic acid (ALA): flaxseed (linseed) oil, soy oil, chloroplasts

Therapeutics:

* cardiovascular disease
* cyclosporin (Sandimmune), patients using: reduces nephrotoxicity of cyclosporin; 6 g per day of omega-3 fats for 3 months reduced drop in glomerular filtration rate by more than 50% (Stoof, 1989; 226: 437-441)
* hypercholesterolemia
* hypertriglyceridemia
* hypertension
* autoimmune conditions: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis
* migraine headaches
* diabetes mellitus
* asthma
* allergies
* premenstrual syndrome

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