Furthermore , omega-3 SDA demonstrates its own potent anti-inflammatory , cardioprotective , pro-collagen and neuroprotective benefits .( 35-37 ) One study remarkably found circulating ALA , SDA and ETE levels to predict fluid intelligence and frontal neocortex brain integrity in healthy seniors , rather than EPA and DHA levels .( 38 ) SDA has also been shown to demonstrate comparable anti-inflammatory action to DHA in macrophages ; furthermore , SDA reliably and consistently upregulates antiinflammatory interleukin-10 in clinical trials .( 39 , 40 )
Increasing attention is placed on EPA , DPA and DHA-derived oxyipins , some of which are known as specialised proresolving mediators or SPM precursors . ( 41 ) While their effects are less well studied , over half of recognised tissue oxylipins are in fact derived from ALA and LA . Interestingly , the omega-3 succeeding SDA , ETA , also has its own newly discovered anti-inflammatory oxlipin which “ could possibly possess anti-inflammatory or pro-resolving activities analogous to the well-described EPA , DPA and DHA-derived resolvins , protectins and maresins .”( 42 ) While omega-6 is typically associated with pro-inflammatory outcomes , DGLA ( the omega-6 metabolite formed preferentially from GLA ) also produces antiinflammatory oxylipins , demonstrates inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation and inflammation and can compete with AA in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory AA eicosanoids .( 41 , 43 ) Due to the unilateral omega-3 and omega-6 metabolism pathways , these non EPA , DPA or DHA-derived oxylipins are neither procured from fish nor algal sources , and can only be produced in any meaningful quantity from plant sources .
Respecting the body ’ s autonomy to benefit from our natural omega metabolism pathways
Refined Buglossoides arvensis seed oil demonstrates up to four times better conversion to EPA than flaxseed oil , comparable tissue DHA turnover to marine DHA , and downregulation of highly pro-inflammatory AA , in addition to gut microbiome-enhancing , anti-inflammatory , hepatoprotective , cognitive-enhancing , and insulinsensitising effects .( 12 , 17 , 31 , 40 , 44-47 ) While retaining a 4:1 omega 3:6 ratio , it also provides a comparable percentage of omega-6 GLA to evening primrose ( 5-8 % versus 6-10 %), and efficiently and reliably upregulates anti-inflammatory DGLA preferentially over pro-inflammatory AA .( 12 , 40 )
Refined Buglossoides arvensis seed oil appears to efficiently increase plasma EPA and cause a distinct shift in the entire oxylipin pattern , while maintaining tissue DHA turnover comparably to dietary DHA .( 12 , 17 ) Animal models thus far have found its anti-inflammatory actions to be either equal or superior to those observed with fish oil .( 31 , 47 ) A recent peer-reviewed publication on sustainable omega sources noted that in a total parenteral nutrition ( TPN ) animal study , “ Remarkably , the effects of the ( refined Buglossoides avensis seed ) oil containing lipid emulsion were greater than those of the fish oil emulsion . Liver and muscle interleukin-10 and the ratio of interleukin-10 to interleukin-6 were higher with ( refined Buglossoides arvensis seed ) oil than with either soybean oil or fish oil .”( 48 ) Refined Buglossoides arvensis seed oil has also recently been shown to exhibit prebiotic-like effects , and “ foster the remarkable and previously understudied capability of gut microbiota to bio-transform dietary fatty acids into bioactive endocannabinoid-like mediators .”( 45 ) Researchers noted a “ more targeted and selective influence of Buglossoides oil ” in the gut microbiome than fish oil .
Questions about whether to supplement EPA and DHA and in what quantity or ratio , could be largely answered by allowing the body to determine how much of each to provide , using the enzyme-regulated metabolism pathway it has been biologically equipped with . A meta-regression of randomised clinical trials showed a higher EPA to DHA ratio to lower C-reactive protein , though conversely to be associated with higher systolic blood pressure .( 49 ) This apparent conflict indicates that there may be differing ideal amounts according to changing physiological requirements . If the body has tightly regulated enzymatic control over its omega-3 and omega-6 metabolism pathways , and if the essential omega-3 fatty acid in humans is ALA , rather than EPA , and if intermediary metabolites exist with unique oxylipins , surely this indicates that the body would prefer to dictate what it requires at any given time ? An ALA and SDA-rich combined source , such as Buglossoides arvensis seed oil , allows the body to reap the well-established benefits associated with ALA , while overcoming the D6D limitations implicit in our western diets , through the ability of SDA to expedite the conversion through to EPA and the biosynthesis of DHA in key tissues .( 12- 14 , 17 , 28 , 33 , 34 )
With growing pressure on marine ecosystems to meet our global omega-3 requirements and the accompanying serious deleterious environmental consequences , a regeneratively farmed alternative to fish oil is available to us , should we be ready to embrace it . Mounting research supports the efficacy of a sustainable , neutral-tasting omega-3 SDA-rich plant source to meet our circulating EPA and tissue DHA needs , while respecting the body ’ s natural omega-3 metabolism pathway , and offering the widest array of antiinflammatory oxylipin precursors . In the words of Josh Geiger , “ For every extractive , degenerative technology and infrastructure we have on the planet there is a regenerative solution ” – we just have to choose it . Regenerating our planet and regenerating the human body , away from auto-immune presentations and towards wellness , need not be mutually exclusive pursuits .
REFERENCES For a full list of references , please email the Editor : editor @ atms . com . au
JATMS | Summer 2024 | 221