Diet and nutritionOmega-3 and omega-6 — what does fasting do to the fats in our bodies?
- Ewa Dąbrowska — Wpływ diety bardzo nisko energetycznej na skład wielonienasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych krwi chorych z porfirią późną skórną
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After two weeks on the diet, EPA and DHA levels in the blood cells of patients with porphyria increased and reached normal levels.
- Many fatty acids that had previously been low increased, while ALA, which had previously been elevated, decreased and approached normal levels.
- Desaturase activity also increased. These enzymes are involved in fatty acid metabolism, and the increase affected both the n-6 and n-3 pathways.
- The changes were more pronounced in blood cells than in plasma, where no significant changes were observed.
- The diet also lowered the previously elevated AA/EPA ratio, indicating that the results shifted toward normal.
What the authors write
Ewa Dąbrowska
After the diet, EPA and DHA increased significantly in blood cells and reached normal levels.
„Only two n-3 fatty acids—EPA (C 20:5) and DHA (C 22:6)—increased significantly after the diet, reaching normal levels. In addition, the total desaturase activity, which had been low before the diet, increased significantly afterward.
It is surprising that the deficiencies mainly affected n-3 fatty acids, which are typically found in fish fats but were present only in trace amounts in the fruit-and-vegetable diet (see Table).”Jedynie dwa kwasy n-3 – EPA (C 20:5) i DHA (C 22:6) – istotnie wzrosły po diecie, osiągając normę. Ponadto obniżona przed dietą całkowita aktywność desaturaz uległa istotnemu wzrostowi po diecie.
To zaskakujące, że niedobory dotyczyły głównie kwasów n-3, typowo obecnych w tłuszczach rybnych, a w diecie warzywno-owocowej występowały w śladowych ilościach (patrz tabl.
Ewa Dąbrowska
Many fatty acids that had previously been low increased in blood cells.
„In our study of patients with PPS, many PUFA levels in blood cells, which had previously been low, increased after the diet. However, not all the increases were statistically significant, probably because the group was small and the treatment was short.”W naszych badaniach u chorych z PPS warunki, w których wiele WNKT w krwinkach było uprzednio obniżonych, uległy po diecie wzrostowi, jednak nie wszystkie osiągnęły istotność statystyczną, prawdopodobnie ze względu na małą liczebność grupy oraz krótki czas trwania kuracji.
Ewa Dąbrowska
The ALA level, which had been elevated before the diet, decreased and approached normal.
„Only ALA, which before the diet was almost twice the normal level, decreased after the diet, also moving closer to normal. Only two n-3 fatty acids showed a statistically significant difference before and after the diet: EPA (C 20:5) and DHA (C 22:6).”Jedynie kwas ALA, który był przed dietą niemal dwukrotnie wyższy względem normy – po diecie uległ obniżeniu, także zbliżając się do normy. Istotność statystyczną różnicy (przed i po diecie) uzyskały jedynie dwa kwasy szeregu n-3: EPA (C 20:5) i DHA C 22:6).
Ewa Dąbrowska
The diet did not cause significant changes in the composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma.
„Only two n-3 fatty acids showed a statistically significant difference before and after the diet: EPA (C 20:5) and DHA (C 22:6). In plasma, however, no significant changes in PUFA composition were observed as a result of the diet. Table 4 presents the desaturation and elongation indices, the sum of 20- and 22-carbon fatty acids, and the so-called atherogenic ratio (AA/EPA).”Istotność statystyczną różnicy (przed i po diecie) uzyskały jedynie dwa kwasy szeregu n-3: EPA (C 20:5) i DHA C 22:6). Natomiast w osoczu nie obserwowano istotnych zmian w składzie WNKT pod wpływem diety. W tabeli 4 przedstawiono indeksy desaturacji i elongacji, oraz sumę kwasów tłuszczowych 20 – i 22- węglowych, oraz tzw. współczynnik aterogenny (AA/EPA).
Ewa Dąbrowska
After the diet, total desaturase activity for both n-6 and n-3 fatty acids increased, approaching normal levels.
„At the same time, total desaturase activity for both the n-6 and n-3 series increased significantly after the diet, approaching normal levels. Fatty acids in plasma showed less consistent changes. A two-week fruit-and-vegetable diet in patients with porphyria has a beneficial effect on PUFA metabolism in blood cells, restoring their disrupted balance.”Równocześnie całkowita aktywność desaturaz zarówno dla szeregu n-6, jak i n – 3 uległa po diecie istotnemu wzrostowi, zbliżając się do normy. W osoczu kwasy tłuszczowe zachowywały się mniej charakterystycznie. 2 – tygodniowa kuracja dietą warzywno – owocową u chorych z porfirią wywiera korzystny wpływ na metabolizm WNKT w krwinkach, normalizując zaburzoną ich homeostazę.
Ewa Dąbrowska
The previously elevated AA/EPA ratio decreased after the diet.
„For example, after the diet we observed a simultaneous increase in the previously low desaturase activity in blood cells, a decrease in the previously elevated delta-4 desaturase activity in plasma, increases in the previously low amounts of EPA and DHA and of 20- and 22-carbon fatty acids, and a decrease in the atherogenic ratio (AA/EPA), which had been too high before the diet.”Na przykład po diecie obserwowaliśmy równocześnie zwiększenie uprzednio niskiej aktywności desaturaz w krwinkach, obniżenie uprzednio podwyższonej desaturazy delta 4 w osoczu, zwiększenie zbyt niskich ilości kwasów EPA i DHA oraz kwasów 20- i 22-węglowych oraz obniżenie zbyt wysokiego przed dietą współczynnika aterogennego (AA/EPA).
Ewa Dąbrowska
The results point to a beneficial effect of the two-week diet on the metabolism of these fatty acids in blood cells and on restoring their balance.
„A two-week fruit-and-vegetable diet in patients with porphyria has a beneficial effect on PUFA metabolism in blood cells, restoring their disrupted balance. These results may open up new therapeutic possibilities for porphyria cutanea tarda.”2 – tygodniowa kuracja dietą warzywno – owocową u chorych z porfirią wywiera korzystny wpływ na metabolizm WNKT w krwinkach, normalizując zaburzoną ich homeostazę. Uzyskane wyniki być może otworzą nowe perspektywy terapeutyczne porfirii późnej skórnej.
Ewa Dąbrowska
A very-low-calorie diet may stimulate changes in the activity of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism.
„Calorie restriction may trigger metabolic reprogramming at the gene level, including changes in transcription related to fatty acid metabolism and insulin receptor sensitivity [14].
Carbohydrate metabolism disorders are common in PPS [3,6], and our earlier data show that a restrictive diet also has beneficial effects in insulin-resistant diabetes [5].”Restrykcje kaloryczne mogą indukować przeprogramowanie metaboliczne na poziomie genów, m.in. transkrypcje związane z metabolizmem kwasów tłuszczowych i wrażliwością receptorów insuliny [14].
W PPS często występują zaburzenia metabolizmu węglowodanów [3,6], a nasze wcześniejsze dane dowodzą korzystnego wpływu diety restrykcyjnej także w cukrzycy insulinoopornej [5].
Ewa Dąbrowska
A study of obese women also found an increase in blood n-3 fatty acids after a low-calorie diet.
„Christophe et al. [4] also observed an increase in blood n-3 fatty acids after a low-calorie diet in obese women, suggesting increased delta-6 desaturase activity. Tynan et al. [20] showed that reducing energy intake while increasing dietary PUFA affects not only weight loss but also the fatty acid composition of cell membranes.”Christophe i wsp. [4] u otyłych kobiet również zaobserwowali wzrost kwasów n-3 we krwi po diecie niskokalorycznej, co sugerowało zwiększenie aktywności desaturazy delta 6, a Tynan i wsp. [20] wykazali, że redukcja energii i jednoczesne zwiększenie PUFA w diecie wpływają nie tylko na utratę masy ciała, ale także na skład kwasów tłuszczowych błon komórkowych.
Ewa Dąbrowska
The fruit-and-vegetable diet studied contained mainly the precursors of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids: LA and ALA.
„Energy (kcal/day; MJ/day)
Carbohydrates (g/day; %)
Carbohydrate/protein ratio
Very-low-energy diet
Recommended dietary allowances
Ratio of recommended dietary allowances to very-low-energy diet
Table 2 shows the percentage composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids measured in a homogenized sample of the full-day fruit-and-vegetable diet. The plant fats in the diet consisted mainly of precursors of the n-6 and n-3 fatty acid families: linoleic acid, LA (18:2), and alpha-linolenic acid, ALA (18:3).”Energia kcal/dobę (MJ/dobę)
Węglowodany g/dobę (%)
Stosunek węglowodany/białko
Dieta bardzo nisko energetyczna
Zalecane normy żywienia
Stosunek zalecane normy żywienia / dieta bardzo nisko energetyczna
W tabeli 2 przedstawiono skład procentowy kwasów tłuszczowych wielonienasyconych oznaczonych w homogenacie całodniowej diety warzywno – owocowej. Wśród tłuszczów roślinnych, które występowały w diecie warzywno – owocowej stwierdzono obecność głównie prekursorów kwasów tłuszczowych rodziny n-6 i n-3 tj. kwasu linolowego LA (18:2) i alfa linolenowego ALA (18:3).
Ewa Dąbrowska
The author concludes that the diet activates mechanisms that restore normal polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism.
„A very-low-energy fruit-and-vegetable diet triggers self-regulating mechanisms in the body that can restore disrupted polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism to normal.
Brassi A, Avogaro A, Crepaldi C et al. Short-term diabetic ketosis alters n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid content in plasma phospholipids.”Kuracja dietą bardzo niskoenergetyczną (warzywno-owocową) wyzwala w organizmie samoregulujące mechanizmy zdolne do przywrócenia do normy rozkojarzonego metabolizmu wielonienasyconych kwasów tłuszczowych.
Brassi A, Avogaro A, Crepaldi C et al. Short‐term diabetic ketosis alters n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid content in plasma phospholipids.
Ewa Dąbrowska
In this short study, significant changes in blood cells affected only two n-3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA.
„The diet appeared to move several fatty acids and enzyme activities toward normal, although only two n-3 fatty acids—EPA (C 20:5) and DHA (C 22:6)—in blood cells reached statistical significance. At the same time, total desaturase activity for both the n-6 and n-3 series increased significantly after the diet, approaching normal levels.”Obserwowano tendencję do normalizacji szeregu kwasów tłuszczowych, oraz aktywności enzymów pod wpływem diety, choć istotność statystyczną osiągnęły jedynie dwa kwasy szeregu n – 3 tj. EPA (C 20: 5) i DHA (C 22: 6) w krwinkach. Równocześnie całkowita aktywność desaturaz zarówno dla szeregu n-6, jak i n – 3 uległa po diecie istotnemu wzrostowi, zbliżając się do normy.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„The body can convert ALA into longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA, but this conversion is slow. A diet rich in EPA and DHA, readily available in fish or algal oils, is thought to be beneficial. These key anti-inflammatory nutrients have many proven benefits in preventing and treating chronic illness. One of their main benefits is their ability to make cell membranes more flexible, helping nutrients enter cells, waste leave them, and neurotransmitters be released to carry signals in the brain. Clinical studies have shown widespread benefits.”The body can convert ALA into longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA, but this conversion is slow, and a diet rich in EPA and DHA, widely available in fish or algal oils, is thought to be beneficial. These primary anti-inflammatory nutrients have many proven benefits for the prevention and treatment of chronic illness. One of main benefits is the ability of omega-3 fatty acids to soften cell membranes, which helps to improve the entry of nutrients, the removal of waste from cells, and release of neurotransmitters for signaling in the brain. Clinical studies have shown wide-spread benefits.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„The risk of cardiovascular disease can be lowered by taking adequate amounts of vitamins C (3,000–10,000 mg/day), D (2,000–10,000 IU/day), and E (400–1,200 IU/day), as well as magnesium (300–600 mg/day), alongside an excellent diet that includes an adequate amount of omega-3 fatty acids.[7] (Dr.”Risk for cardiovascular disease can be lowered by adequate doses of vitamins C (3,000-10,000mg/d), D (2,000-10,000 IU/d), E (400-1,200 IU/d), and magnesium (300-600 mg/d) in addition to an excellent diet that includes an adequate dose of omega-3 fatty acids.[7] (Dr.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„In most industrialized countries, many people consume too many omega-6 fatty acids and would therefore benefit from eating more seafood or taking supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids from organisms low in the food chain, such as algae and krill. Flaxseeds are rich in the essential omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid. Freshly ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil can be mixed into breakfast cereal or smoothies.”In most industrialized countries, many people get too much of the omega-6 fatty acids, and would therefore benefit from eating more seafood or taking supplements with omega-3 fatty acids derived from organisms low in the food chain (algae, krill). Flax seeds contain a high level of the essential omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, and freshly ground flaxseed meal or flax oil can be mixed with breakfast cereals or smoothies.
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