Commentary on the Workshop Statement:Are we really sure that arachidonic acid and linoleic acid are bad things?

Horrobin, D.F.

doi:10.1054/plef.2000.0183

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The fundamental question with respect to CHD is this: is risk for CHD reduced more effectively by targeting a specific dietary n-6/n-3 FA ratio or by targeting specific dietary intakes for n-6 and n-3 FAs? I, like others [7,8], argue for the latter.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

The omega-6/omega-3 ratio and cardiovascular disease risk: Uses and abuses

Harris

2006

Curr Atheroscler Rep

127

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The cardioprotective effects of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) are well known, but the role that the n-6 FAs play in coronary heart disease is unclear. These two classes of essential FAs compete for a number of enzyme systems, and their metabolites can powerfully influence (often in different directions) inflammatory responses, vascular reactivity, and platelet aggregation. Accordingly, the n-6/n-3 FA ratio may be of value in interpreting biomarker data and in making nutritional recommendations. Although initially appealing, there are few human experimental and clinical trial data to support this view. This paper reviews a variety of studies that, in the aggregate, suggest that the ratio is, both on theoretical and evidential grounds, of little value. Metrics that include the n-3 FAs alone, especially eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, appear to hold the greatest promise.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 70%

The omega-6/omega-3 ratio and cardiovascular disease risk: Uses and abuses

Harris

2006

Curr Atheroscler Rep

127

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“…The injurious findings in in vitro systems do not necessarily mean that n-6 PUFA are deleterious to the whole organism, as there are many other regulating and regulatory metabolites and interactions. As Cunnane [59] and Horrobin [60] report, we still lack the indicting evidence of the harmful effects of LA and AA. The probable answer is well known to philosophers and lies in the correct balance or harmony between the n-3 and n-6 fatty acids-a balance that has yet to be agreed upon.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Omega-6 fatty acids and coronary artery disease: The pros and cons

Dubnov

Berry

2004

Curr Atheroscler Rep

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Polyunsaturated fatty acids have long been recommended as a beneficial substitute for atherogenic saturated fat. The connection between dietary lipids and blood cholesterol is still under debate, as is the connection between dietary fat and coronary artery disease. Thus, the lipid hypothesis is still a hypothesis. The major dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid of the omega-6 family, has several properties that render it hyperinsulinemic and atherogenic. The potential benefits of linoleic acid intake regarding coronary artery disease, and its possible harms, are discussed.

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“…38 However, there are no data from human studies that support a detrimental effect of dietary n-6 fatty acids on coronary heart disease or other harmful side effect of n-6 fatty acids. 39 In contrast, several studies found beneficial effects (as reviewed by Hu et al 1 ). Specifically, a recent prospective study found similar beneficial effects of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids on cardiovascular risk factors, 40 and a recent cross-sectional study found n-3 and n-6 fatty acid intake combined to be associated with a lower risk of coronary artery disease than either type of fatty acid alone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitual Dietary Intake of n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acids in Relation to Inflammatory Markers Among US Men and Women

Pischon¹,

Hankinson²,

et al. 2003

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Background— Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake favorably affects chronic inflammatory-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease; however, high intake of n-6 fatty acids may attenuate the known beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids. Methods and Results— We investigated habitual dietary n-3 fatty acid intake and its interaction with n-6 fatty acids in relation to the plasma inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 (sTNF-R1 and R2) among 405 healthy men and 454 healthy women. After adjustment for other predictors of inflammation, intake of the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was inversely associated with plasma levels of sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 ( P =0.03 and P <0.001, respectively) and somewhat less so for C-reactive protein ( P =0.08). n-3 α-linolenic acid and n-6 cis-linoleic acid were not significantly related to the inflammatory markers. We found little if any association between n-3 fatty acid (EPA+DHA) intake and tumor necrosis factor receptors among participants with low intake of n-6 but a strong inverse association among those with high n-6 intake ( P =0.04 and 0.002 for interaction of n-3 with n-6 on sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2, respectively). Conclusions— These results suggest that n-6 fatty acids do not inhibit the antiinflammatory effects of n-3 fatty acids and that the combination of both types of fatty acids is associated with the lowest levels of inflammation. The inhibition of inflammatory cytokines may be one possible mechanism for the observed beneficial effects of these fatty acids on chronic inflammatory-related diseases.

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Commentary on the Workshop Statement:Are we really sure that arachidonic acid and linoleic acid are bad things?

Cited by 13 publications

References 19 publications

The omega-6/omega-3 ratio and cardiovascular disease risk: Uses and abuses

The omega-6/omega-3 ratio and cardiovascular disease risk: Uses and abuses

Omega-6 fatty acids and coronary artery disease: The pros and cons

Habitual Dietary Intake of n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acids in Relation to Inflammatory Markers Among US Men and Women

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