Inflammation is a natural process in the body to deal with stress whether it is mental-emotional, physical, chemical, electromagnetic, or nutritional. Inflammation is part of the body’s natural mechanism to start the healing process. If excessive inflammation is present, signs may include:

v   excessively sore muscles
v   chronic pain in joints
v   lacking the ability to recover from exercise or sports.

     Essential fatty acids(EFA) play a key role in regulating the inflammatory response in the body. Omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids are the two essential fatty acids that are important components of all cells in the body. In fact, they make up 50% of the phospholipids that comprise a cell membrane. Although the human body is able to synthesize saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids (omega-7 and omega-9 fatty acids), it can not synthesize omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Humans do not have the delta-12 and delta-15 desaturase enzymes which are required to produce omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore these essential fatty acids must be obtained through your diet (1).

The EFA’s in the diet are linoleic acid (omega-6) and α-linolenic acid (omega-3). These fatty acids are converted to longer chain unsaturated derivatives, thus linoleic acid is converted to arachidonic acid and α-linolenic acid is converted to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (Figure 1 & 2). Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are metabolically distinct and have opposing physiological functions, therefore it is essential they are both included in the diet each day in the correct ratio.

Research has shown that individuals are healthy and vital on a diet with a ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 of approximately 1 to 1 whereas the typical Western diet has a ratio of 15 to 1 or as much as 20 to 1 (2). If there is an overabundance of omega-6 fatty acids (i.e. seeds, grains, soybeans, and most nuts), the end product, arachidonic acid will replace EPA and DHA within cell membranes. This leads to abnormally high levels of biologically active compounds called eicosanoids, which include prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. An over abundance of these eicosanoids will lead to excessive inflammation in the body.

     Restoring a more ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is pivotal to reducing inflammation in your body. Proper nutritional changes and supplementation will dramatically affect this ratio. Supplementing the diet with omega-3 fatty acids is a great way to create an ideal omega 6:3 ratio. Flax seed oil is a well known omega 3 fatty acid supplement which is touted as a healthy oil and contains alpha linolenic acid. In order for flax seed oil to be effective, your body must have an enzyme called delta 6 desaturase. The presence of delta 6 desaturase is critical in order to convert flax seed oil to EPA and DHA (Figure 2). If trans fatty acids, coffee, alcohol, and high stress are part of your lifestyle, the amount of delta 6 desaturase is drastically reduced, thus a minimal amount of flax seed oil will be converted to EPA and DHA(3).

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