Fish oil, essential fatty acids, and hypertension

A proper balance between the n-3 and n-6 series of essential fatty acids (EFAs) is essential for homeostasis and normal growth in humans. Dietary supplement with fish oil and related n-3 EFAs has been used to study their antihypertensive property in animals and humans with borderline and essential hypertension. In the animal models, chronic treatment of young animals generally only attenuated the development of hypertension. In animals with hypercholesterolemia, n-3 EFA supplement increased the incidence of atherosclerosis. In humans, chronic treatment with fish oil only produced a small reduction in blood pressure. The concerns are that the high dose of fish oil may interfere with the control of blood glucose in diabetic patients, and may cause prolonged bleeding in surgical patients. Studies on the animal models of hypertension showed that n-6 EFAs are more effective than n-3 EFAs in lowering and normalizing the blood pressure of these animals, probably through the production of tissue prostaglandins, which favour vasodilation. The antihypertensive effect of the n-6 EFAs in humans is not well known, because there are only a few studies, usually involving a very small number of patients. A possible side effects of n-6 EFAs for concern is that they might stimulate tumour development. A careful examination of these risk factors is needed before any recommendation can be made concerning the use of EFAs for the control of hypertension for humans.

Mastalgia: a 3 year Australian study

Mastalgia is a common but often poorly understood condition with little Australian data available on the subject. Details are presented of 170 patients who have attended a specific mastalgia clinic at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, over a 3 year period. The aims and management protocol of the clinic are outlined. The mastalgia sufferer in this study had an average age of 42 years and 87% were multiparous. Cyclical pain occurred in 59% as determined by a daily pain record chart. Unilateral pain occurred in 38%. Lack of previous breast feeding and low levels of regular physical exercise were identified as two significant factors in the history of those attending the clinic. The responses to treatments are outlined. Response rates of 18 and 26% to two commonly used 'natural products', Vitamin B6 and Evening Primrose Oil, respectively, are considered little better than placebo effect. A complete response was achieved in 67% of women who took low dose danazol with minimal side effects. The overall response rate to all treatments was 65% with a mean follow up of 15.5 months for those women who continued to attend the clinic. For women with mastalgia, a systematic approach can achieve relief of pain.

Unsuccessful dietary treatment of Sjögren-Larsson syndrome

We treated five children with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome. The patients, 5 months to 8 years of age, were given a low fat diet supplemented with medium-chain fatty acids. Plasma octadecanol levels remained unchanged, and skin lesions and neurologic symptoms did not abate. Two patients also failed to respond to dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids. We conclude that dietary therapy is usually unsuccessful in patients with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome even when started in early infancy.

Partial and complete regression of breast cancer in patients in relation to dosage of coenzyme Q10

Relationships of nutrition and vitamins to the genesis and prevention of cancer are increasingly evident. In a clinical protocol, 32 patients having -"high-risk"- breast cancer were treated with antioxidants, fatty acids, and 90 mg. of CoQ10. Six of the 32 patients showed partial tumor regression. In one of these 6 cases, the dosage of CoQ10 was increased to 390 mg. In one month, the tumor was no longer palpable and in another month, mammography confirmed the absence of tumor. Encouraged, another case having a verified breast tumor, after non-radical surgery and with verified residual tumor in the tumor bed was then treated with 300 mg. CoQ10. After 3 months, the patient was in excellent clinical condition and there was no residual tumor tissue. The bioenergetic activity of CoQ10, expressed as hematological or immunological activity, may be the dominant but not the sole molecular mechanism causing the regression of breast cancer.

Evening primrose oil and marine oil in the treatment of psoriasis

The effect of dietary supplementation with a combination of n-3 (marine oil) and n-6 (evening primrose oil) essential fatty acids in the treatment of chronic stable plaque psoriasis was observed. Thirty-seven patients in a double-blind parallel trial were studied. There was no significant improvement in clinical severity of psoriasis or change in transepidermal water loss.

[Recent advances in the use of essential fatty acids in pediatrics within the limits of diet, prevention and therapy]

The authors review the origins and the metabolism of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and particularly consider the implications of desaturase's deficiency and of the usual imbalanced supply of fatty acids in the diet of children. The peculiarity of the fatty acids is to be, while proteins express the genome, the expression of the diet on the cell's membranes, with a subtle influence of an enzyme's equipment varying during the life. All that gains an extraordinary relief, because the omega-6 and omega-3, and constituents of the membranes, are precursors of different series of prostaglandins, which are wholebody mediators of multiple phenomenons like inflammation, immunity, allergy, platelet aggregation, ecc. The authors point how a balanced diet or a supplementation with omega-3, omega-6 and PUFA can help a good development especially of the nervous tissue and of the mucosal barrier. Furthermore modulating the above physiopathological mechanism, also in children could influence recurrent and chronic diseases.

Effect of oral gamolenic acid from evening primrose oil on menopausal flushing

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of gamolenic acid provided by evening primrose oil in treating hot flushes and sweating associated with the menopause.

DESIGN

Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study.

SETTING

District general hospital and teaching hospital.

SUBJECTS

56 menopausal women suffering hot flushes at least three times a day.

INTERVENTION

Four capsules twice a day of 500 mg evening primrose oil with 10 mg natural vitamin E or 500 mg liquid paraffin for six months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Change in the number of hot flushes or sweating episodes a month.

RESULTS

56 diaries were analysed, 28 from women taking gamolenic acid and 28 from those taking placebo. Only 18 women given gamolenic acid and 17 given placebo completed the trial. The mean (SE) improvement in the number of flushes in the last available treatment cycle compared with the control cycle was 1.9 (0.4) (P < 0.001) for daytime flushes and 0.7 (0.3) (P < 0.05) for night time flushes in women taking placebo; the corresponding values for women taking gamolenic acid were 0.5 (0.4) and 0.5 (0.3). In women taking gamolenic acid the only significant improvement was a reduction in the maximum number of night time flushes (1.4 (0.6); P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Gamolenic acid offers no benefit over placebo in treating menopausal flushing.

Apparent partial remission of breast cancer in 'high risk' patients supplemented with nutritional antioxidants, essential fatty acids and coenzyme Q10

Thirty-two typical patients with breast cancer, aged 32-81 years and classified 'high risk' because of tumor spread to the lymph nodes in the axilla, were studied for 18 months following an Adjuvant Nutritional Intervention in Cancer protocol (ANICA protocol). The nutritional protocol was added to the surgical and therapeutic treatment of breast cancer, as required by regulations in Denmark. The added treatment was a combination of nutritional antioxidants (Vitamin C: 2850 mg, Vitamin E: 2500 iu, beta-carotene 32.5 iu, selenium 387 micrograms plus secondary vitamins and minerals), essential fatty acids (1.2 g gamma linolenic acid and 3.5 g n-3 fatty acids) and Coenzyme Q10 (90 mg per day). The ANICA protocol is based on the concept of testing the synergistic effect of those categories of nutritional supplements, including vitamin Q10, previously having shown deficiency and/or therapeutic value as single elements in diverse forms of cancer, as cancer may be synergistically related to diverse biochemical dysfunctions and vitamin deficiencies. Biochemical markers, clinical condition, tumor spread, quality of life parameters and survival were followed during the trial. Compliance was excellent. The main observations were: (1) none of the patients died during the study period. (the expected number was four.) (2) none of the patients showed signs of further distant metastases. (3) quality of life was improved (no weight loss, reduced use of pain killers). (4) six patients showed apparent partial remission.

Evening primrose oil reduces urinary calcium excretion in both normal and hypercalciuric rats

Hypercalciuria is an important risk factor in the aetiology of idiopathic urolithiasis and many treatment modalities in clinical practice are directed towards reducing urinary calcium excretion. There are no natural animal models of hypercalciuria, such as the spontaneous hypertensive rat; however, the streptozotocin-diabetic rat is accepted as a good model for studies of disordered renal function associated with diabetes mellitus. Hypercalciuria is a prominent feature of the streptozotocin-diabetic rat and the model was, therefore, used to study the influence of evening primrose oil on urinary calcium excretion. Twenty rats divided into two groups of ten rats each were maintained on either normal rat chow (group 1) or primrose oil enriched diet (group 2) for 10 weeks. At 4 weeks both groups of rats were made diabetic with streptozotocin. Urine calcium measurements were serially performed before commencement of the diet, during the pre-streptozotocin (pre-diabetic) phase and during the post streptozotocin (diabetic) phase. The urine calcium excretion was significantly less in the primrose oil fed animals during both the pre-diabetic phase and the diabetic phase compared with the rats on the normal rat chow. These results indicate that evening primrose oil, a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, helps to reduce urine calcium excretion in normal animals as well as in the hypercalciuric streptozotocin-diabetic rat. Dietary modifications with long-chain omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids might be a useful adjunct in the treatment of idiopathic hypercalciuric urolithiasis.

A comparison of evening primrose oil and sunflower oil for the management of papulocrustous dermatitis in cats

Eleven cats with papulocrustous dermatitis were randomly assigned to one of two groups and supplemented with either evening primrose oil or sunflower oil for 12 weeks. Clinical scores were assessed at intervals of three weeks and blood samples were taken for the analysis of plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid concentrations. The cats in both groups improved during the period of treatment and the concentration of linoleic acid in erythrocyte phospholipid increased in the cats fed evening primrose oil. Six weeks after the supplement was withdrawn the cats fed evening primrose oil had deteriorated less than those fed sunflower oil.

Comparative study of diets enriched with evening primrose, black currant, borage or fungal oils on blood pressure and pressor responses in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effects of oils enriched with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) on blood pressure and pressor responses were examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Rats were fed purified diets containing evening primrose (EPO), black currant (BCO), borage (BOR) or fungal (FGO) oils for 7 weeks. Significant reductions in blood pressure were obtained in SHR rats maintained on diets enriched with GLA oils. The antihypertensive effect was not associated with enhanced pressor responsiveness to norepinephrine or angiotensin II. Moreover, no differences were found in blood pressure responses to the calcium channel blocker, verapamil. The results suggest that GLA-enriched oils inhibit the development of hypertension in the SHR rat. The blood pressure lowering effect is not mediated by altered pressor responses to vasoconstrictor hormones or intracellular calcium mechanisms.

Effect of varying proportions of evening primrose oil and fish oil on cats with crusting dermatosis ('miliary dermatitis')

Fourteen cats with crusting dermatoses ('miliary dermatitis') were supplemented with various combinations of evening primrose oil and fish oil. The cutaneous signs improved when the cats were supplemented with either evening primrose oil alone or with a combination of evening primrose oil and fish oil. Fish oil alone was unable to maintain the remission and the cutaneous signs deteriorated. The subsequent administration of a combination of the two oils resulted in a resolution of the dermatosis.

Potential therapeutic approaches to the treatment or prevention of diabetic neuropathy: evidence from experimental studies

Recent investigations using experimental models of diabetes mellitus have emphasized the importance of impaired blood flow for the development of nerve dysfunction. Other observations suggest that this may also be the case for patients. A number of studies have revealed that several types of vasodilators can prevent or successfully treat early conduction abnormalities in diabetic rodents. These include alpha 1-adrenoreceptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, agents that inhibit the renin-angiotensin system, and vasomodulator prostanoids. Other treatments applied to animal models, such as omega-6 essential fatty acids, aldose reductase inhibitors, aminoguanidine which prevents the formation of advanced glycation end-products, and anti-oxidants all appear to have vascular-related effects that lead to improvements in nerve conduction. These findings suggest that endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress could be important factors in the aetiology of diabetic neuropathy. Studies have also focused on deficits in axon growth and regeneration, their relation to impaired neuronal synthesis and transport of growth-related chemicals, and neuronotrophic abnormalities. Taken together, the data give rise to the notion that an optimal therapeutic strategy could consist of improving the microenvironment of damaged nerve fibres by manipulating nerve blood flow while concurrently encouraging repair with trophic agents.

Hormonal and biochemical profiles of premenstrual syndrome. Treatment with essential fatty acids

Women diagnosed as suffering from premenstrual syndrome and symptom free controls were compared on hormonal parameters, glucose tolerance, mineralocorticoids, cholesterols, triglycerides, apolipoprotein (a), magnesium and calcium in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The effect of treatment with essential fatty acids on the biochemical variables was also evaluated in a randomized, double-blind crossover design. The results showed that the hormonal and biochemical profiles of women with PMS and symptom free controls were markedly similar, except for aldosterone which was lower in the follicular and luteal phases and cholesterol which was higher in the follicular phase in women with PMS. No effects of treatment with essential fatty acids were found for any of the biochemical variables studied.

Placebo-controlled trial of essential fatty acid supplementation in atopic dermatitis

Treatment of atopic dermatitis with essential fatty acids remains controversial. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was done to investigate the response of patients with atopic dermatitis to essential fatty acid supplements. Patients with atopic dermatitis were randomised to receive evening primrose oil, evening primrose oil and fish oil, or placebo for 16 weeks. Disease activity was monitored by clinical severity scores recorded by the investigator, topical steroid requirement, and symptom scores recorded by subjects. Of 123 subjects recruited, 102 completed the treatment period. No improvement with active treatment was demonstrated. Our study, which avoided the methodological and analytical problems of previous studies, found no effect of essential fatty acid supplementation in atopic dermatitis.

Chronic fatigue syndrome. A fresh look at an old problem

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an organic disease of unexplained origin, affects about three people in 100,000. Symptoms last approximately 2 1/2 years, and most CFS patients return to normal health. Diagnosis of CFS is by exclusion. No single remedy has yet proven consistently beneficial. Family physicians can help by providing medical validation of disability to persons who might otherwise be seen as malingerers.