Why seal oil is better than fish oil and flax seed oil

´º¸û

                                                                                                                                                [size=16.000000pt]Annals of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy
                               
                       
                                                                                                [size=6.000000pt]Open Access
                               
                       
                        file:///page1image2496                        file:///page1image2664                                                                                                [size=10.000000pt]Perspective
                                        [size=20.000000pt]Is the Jury Still Out on the Bene ts of Fish, Seal and FlaxOils in Cardiovascular Disease?
                               
                       
                                                                                                [size=8.000000pt]Xu YJ[size=5.000000pt]1[size=8.000000pt], Gregor T[size=5.000000pt]2[size=8.000000pt], Dhalla NS[size=5.000000pt]1 [size=8.000000pt]and Tappia PS[size=5.000000pt]2[size=8.000000pt]*
                                        [size=5.000000pt]1[size=8.000000pt]Department of Physiology, Institute of CardiovascularSciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research, Faculty ofMedicine, University of Manitoba, Canada
[size=5.000000pt]2[size=8.000000pt]Asper Clinical Research Institute, and St. BonifaceHospital Research, Canada
                                        [size=8.000000pt]*Corresponding author: [size=8.000000pt]Tappia PS, Asper ClinicalResearch Institute and St. Boniface Hospital Research,CR3129-369 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2H2A6, Canada, Tel: 204-258-1230; Fax: 204-237-0347;Email: [email protected]
                                        [size=8.000000pt]Received: [size=8.000000pt]October 13, 2014; [size=8.000000pt]Accepted: [size=8.000000pt]October 14,2014; [size=8.000000pt]Published: [size=8.000000pt]October 17, 2014
                                        [size=11.000000pt]Perspective
                                        [size=9.000000pt]In this perspective article, we present some information onthe bene[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ts of [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh, seal and [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ax oils in the primary and secondaryprevention of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]is is not meant to bean exhaustive review, but a viewpoint that provides an indication forthe recommendation of inclusion of omega-3 fatty acids in the humandiet. [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ere is now substantial evidence that omega-3 fatty acids arebene[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]cial to maintaining human health as well as for the preventionand treatment of a wide variety of health conditions including CVD,mental and visual health, and in[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ammatory and other chronicdisorders [1-5]. Since these fatty acids can not be produced in thehuman body, it has been recommended to increase dietary intake ofomega-3 containing foods, such as [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh, [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ax seed oil and walnuts. [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]elack of dietary omega-3 fatty acids is believed to be related to manydiseases including atherosclerosis, in[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ammatory diseases, joint painand mental disease. However, the potential bene[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ts of [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh oil (omega-3fatty acids) consumption to reduce CVD risk remains controversial;some investigations have reported a reduced CVD risk while othersreport no bene[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]t [6-9]. In this regard, these disparities may be due toa greater use of background optimal medical therapy that may havereduced the bene[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]t from omega-3 fatty acids or due to low doses ofomega-3 fatty acids or tested omega-3 fatty acid supplementation ontop of a relatively high baseline intake of omega-3 fatty acids [10].[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]is controversy could, in part, be resolved when considerationis given to omega-3 blood levels in relation to CVD risk as well asblood levels achieved in clinical trials of omega-3 supplementationand CVD bene[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]t [6]. With the capability to measure omega-3 fattyacids through blood tests, patients can achieve cardioprotective levelsby either taking [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh oil supplements or simply eating more oily [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh[11]; current guidelines recommend 2 servings of fatty [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh per weekfor the general population. Interestingly, a unique omega-3 fatty acidformulation has been reported to be e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ective in improving blood lipidpro[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]le in ambulatory cardiovascular subjects; the optimal e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]cacy wasfound to be dependent upon dose and purity of the formulation [12].
                                        [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]e average daily consumption of seal oil by the Inuit people isapproximately 8-9 g [13]. High intake of seal oil has been associated
                               
                                                                        [size=9.000000pt]with a reduced risk of CVD [13,14], which may due to an attenuationof oxidative stress and atherosclerotic lesion formation [15]. It hasalso been reported that a daily consumption of 5 or 10 capsules of sealoil reduces plasma triglyceride levels as well as decreased lymphocyteproduction of proin[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ammatory TNF-[size=9.000000pt]¦Á [size=9.000000pt]in healthy volunteers [16].However, there is still very little information on the e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ect of sealoil consumption on CVD risk factors and thus the potential ofseal oil as well as the mechanisms of protection need to be furtherinvestigated. Diabetes is an established risk factor for CVD [17,18].Seal oil and [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh oil may exert preventive e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ects on the risk of diabetes.Several investigators have reported that the Inuit people have lowerprevalence of diabetes compared with other populations [19]. Fromclinical studies and epidemiological surveys, negative correlationsbetween diabetes and intake of seal meal, or salmon [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh or activephysical activity have been revealed. [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]e oil from a seal meal andsalmon [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which canreduce triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol, platelet activity and bloodpressure in type 2 diabetic patients; thus lowering the risk of death indiabetic population due to CVD. However, more clinical studies arerequired in patients with type 1 diabetes [19].
                                        [size=9.000000pt]Comparison studies between [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh oil and seal oil have beencarried out in the recent years. Fish oil contain high amounts of bothEicosapentanoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaneoic Acid (DHA)and relatively low amounts of Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA),however, seal oil contains all of these three fatty acids in relativelyhigh amounts. DPA is more potent than EPA in repairing damagedblood vessels and inhibiting in[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ammatory reactions. Research byMann et al. [20] have reported that seal oil is more e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ective than [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]shoil in suppressing platelet aggregation, lowering triacylglycerol andincreasing HDL-cholesterol levels. [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ese observations were supportedby the pre-clinical studies of Dubey et al. [21], which reported thatseal oil is much more e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]cient than [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh oil in the reduction of plasmatriglycerides, total cholesterol and chylomicron total cholesterol aswell as reducing oxidative stress as evidenced by the lower level ofmalondialdehyde (MDA), a well known marker of lipid peroxidationand oxidative stress.
                                        [size=9.000000pt]It should be noted that some studies report that [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh oil supplementsincrease oxidative stress and risk of cancer. In this regard, Kimura etal [22] have reported that long term intake of [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh increased oxidativeDNA damage in Japanese men and women. While there are otherreports linking high intakes of omega-3 fatty acids to cancer [23,24],pre-clinical studies by Hardman et al [25] have revealed that 3% dietary[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh oil can increase the e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]cacy of chemotherapy against MDA-MB232 breast cancer growth mediated by the increase of oxidative stressin tumor cells; this additive cytotoxic e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ect of omega-3 fatty acidsmay be related to the induction of apoptosis of cancer cells [26]. Fromthe aforementioned it is evident that further investigation is requiredto explore the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid intakes andcancer risk. Another major concern for marine source of omega 3
                               
                       
                       

[size=7.000000pt]Ann Nutr Disord & Ther - Volume 1 Issue 3 - 2014[size=7.000000pt]ISSN : 2381-8891 [size=7.000000pt]| [size=7.000000pt]www.austinpublishinggroup.com[size=7.000000pt]Tappia et al. © All rights are reserved

[size=6.000000pt]Citation: [size=6.000000pt]Xu YJ, Gregor T, Dhalla NS and Tappia PS. Is the Jury Still Out on the Bene ts of Fish, Seal and Flax[size=6.000000pt]Oils in Cardiovascular Disease?. [size=7.000000pt]Ann Nutr Disord & Ther[size=6.000000pt]. 2014;1(3): 1012.

               
                                                                                                                [size=7.000000pt]Tappia PS
                                        [size=9.000000pt]is the mercury contamination [27,28]. Furthermore, concerns about[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh taste, smell, allergies and eructation following a [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh meal aresome of the factors that have limited their dietary use. Flaxseed is analternative to marine products. It is one of the richest sources of theplant-based omega-3 fatty acid, Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA). Basedon the results of clinical trials, epidemiological investigations andexperimental studies, ingestion of ALA has been suggested to havea positive impact on CVD [29,30]. Indeed, recent clinical studieshave shown that [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ax seed consumption, which would be expectedto increase plasma levels of ALA, reduces blood pressure as well asdecreases the plasma concentrations of oxylipin, a known regulatorof vascular tone, in patients with hypertension [31,32]. It is pointedout that ALA can be converted to long-chain omega-3 fatty acids;however, the rate of conversion is low, which is further decreasedby the aging process as well as physical and emotional well being.Nevertheless, it appears that ALA itself may exert bene[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]cial e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ects inthe primary and secondary prevention of CVD.
                                        [size=9.000000pt]In conclusion, the large body of data provides strong evidencefor [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh, seal and [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ax seed oils as important food supplements formaintenance of human health [33,34] including protection againstCVD. From the literature, it seems that seal oil is more potent than[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]sh oil and [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ax seed oil in reducing hardening of blood vessels. Inaddition, the combined use of a plant source and marine sourceomega-3 may result in an additive e[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ect [35-37] and thus warrantsfurther investigation. [size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]e typical North American diet providesapproximately 0.2 g to 0.4 g of EPA and DHA and 1.4 g of ALAper day [24]. Despite the recent negative data about omega-3fatty acids, the overall evidence still supports the American HeartAssociation recommendation of 1 g of EPA/DHA per day forpatients with coronary heart disease. In addition, current dietaryrecommendations for adults suggest a daily intake of 2.22 g ofALA per day [38]. Although there is an increased public awarenessof the health bene[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]ts of omega-3 fatty acids there is still a need forwell designed, randomized, controlled trials of omega-3 fatty acidsin di[size=9.000000pt] [size=9.000000pt]erent patient populations according to age, sex, and ethnicityas well as with a variety of pathophysiological conditions includingCVD and diabetes with higher omega-3 doses.